Early Life Stress More Detrimental than Previously Thought

Several recent gene studies are demonstrating the life-long impact that early life stress has while in the womb and early childhood.  The studies are showing that the influence of stress on the developing baby can turn on inappropriate gene settings that can lead to poor health, even poor mental health.

In the first study researchers at the University of Copenhagen¹ showed that stress turned on the wrong genes during fetal development.  “We found that stress-activating factors can control our genes by turning on certain genes that were supposed to be silenced. It is very important that some genes are on and others are off in order to ensure normal fetal development and correct function of our cells later in life,” says Dr. Klaus Hansen, lead study author.

The researchers pinpointed that methyl groups needed to be attached to various proteins in order for DNA to have proper gene settings.  In plain English this means that the B vitamins, especially folic acid, B12, and B6 are needed to ensure an adequate supply of methyl groups in the face of stress.  If a pregnant mother is lacking B vitamins, and thus methyl groups, it causes a different chemistry reaction and inappropriate gene settings to establish themselves.  While little stress is best during pregnancy, stress can be offset to some degree with intake of B vitamins which would appear to be quite protective for the developing fetus.

Another study from McGill University² shows that a lack of a mother’s caring affection following birth caused the offspring to have DNA that was altered to that GABA was lacking.  GABA is needed to relax the nerves.  An inability to make GABA causes later life insomnia, anxiety, and in more advanced cases mental illness (such as schizophrenia).  Once again, the lack of love in a critical time period shortly following birth induces gene-related methylation problems.  This study also supports the idea that a mother needs adequate nutrition to manage mood during and after pregnancy in a way that supports positive emotions that in turn fortify the correct settings for genes. 

Setting gene switches, a field of research known as epigenetics, has a powerful influence on future health as these genes are not easily reset later in life to a healthy status.  While improvements can be made later on, it takes a lot of work.  It is much better to get the genes set properly in the first place, which places a whole new emphasis on the need for healthy pregnancy and a stable and loving environment for both mother and child.  The future well being of everyone depends on it.

This is the new era of mind-body medicine, linking directly to the emerging field of mind-social medicine.