Early life stress has lasting effects on gene vital to normal brain function

Washington, Sep 29 (ANI): A new animal study has suggested that early life stress, such as an extreme lack of parental affection, has lasting effects on a gene important to normal brain processes and also tied to mental disorders.

In the last decade, researchers have found evidence that experiences can alter the form and structure of DNA, an effect known as epigenetics.

Because these changes affect genes, events early in life have the potential to make a lasting impact on behavior and health. Recent studies focused on cancer and obesity have already shown the power of epigenetics.

In the new study, researchers investigated whether these changes might apply to the activity of genes in brain regions that control neural function and mental health.

The authors explored how differences in a mother's attention affect the GAD1 gene, which controls the production of a chemical vital to brain cell communication called GABA. Research indicates that GABA helps to regulate emotion, and that people with schizophrenia may have GABA deficits.

The authors studied the maternal behavior of rats specifically bred to be either extremely caring or rarely affectionate.

They found when the baby rats that were seldom touched grew up, specific regions of the DNA that controls the GAD1 gene were obstructed, likely leading to smaller amounts of GABA. On the other hand, adult rats coddled in the extreme as pups showed increased GAD1 gene production.

"A critical feature for the effect on gene GAD1 is that the immediate influence of maternal care is limited to a short period following birth, but the resulting changes are long-lasting, even into adulthood," said Tie-Yuan Zhang, lead author of the study from McGill University.

These findings suggest that the early life environment can drive molecular changes that affect brain function and might determine a child's predisposition to mental illness.

The research is published in Sept. 29 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. (ANI)