altered by early trauma

Scientists have studied mice to discover that early life trauma and stress can have an impact on genes.

The journal Nature Neuroscience has published a report on the long-term effects of stress on baby mice, saying a breakdown in the genes after stressful events can result in behavioural problems.

Stressed mice produced hormones that altered their genes, affecting their behaviour throughout their lives.

The work, led by Christopher Murgatroyd, a scientist from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany, said the results could provide clues into how stress and trauma in early life could lead to later problems in humans.

The team found that mice that had suffered forms of abandonment during their early lives were then less able to cope with stressful situations throughout their lives.

The stressed mice also had poorer memories.

Through the studies, scientists will now be able to investigate how childhood trauma in humans can lead to problems such as depression.