The effect of trauma in infancy and early childhood can saddle one with mental disorders and heart disease later in life, says a new human and animal research.
|Last Updated: Oct 17, 2012, 03:45 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Washington: The effect of trauma in infancy and early childhood can saddle one with mental disorders and heart disease later in life, says a new human and animal research.
Documenting the impact of early trauma on brain circuitry and volume, the activation of genes and working memory, which may result from early physical abuse, maternal treatment and poverty, the researchers suggest it increases the risk of mental disorders, as well as heart disease and stress-related conditions in adulthood.
"While we are becoming fully aware, in general, of the devastating impact that early life adversity has on the developing brain, today`s findings reveal specific changes in targeted brain regions and the long-lasting nature of these alterations," said Bruce McEwen, from the Rockefeller University, an expert on stress, according to a statement of the Society for Neuroscience.
"In doing so, this research points not only to new directions for the improved detection and treatment of resulting cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, and chronic diseases, but also emphasizes the importance of preventing early life abuse and neglect in the first place."
These findings show:
*Physical abuse in early childhood may realign communication between key "body-control" brain areas, possibly pre-disposing adults to cardiovascular disease and mental health problems.
*Rodent studies provide insight into brain changes that allow tolerance of pain within mother-pup attachment.
*Childhood poverty is associated with changes in working memory and attention years later in adults; yet training in childhood is associated with improved cognitive functions.
*Chronic stress experienced by infant primates leads to fearful and aggressive behaviours; these are associated with changes in stress hormone production and in the development of the amygdala (almond-shaped mass in the front part of the cerebrum, involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear).
Another recent finding discussed shows that:
*Parent education and income is associated with children`s brain size, including structures important for memory and emotion.
The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.