Topic: Research News
Scientists at Washington University and Princeton University found that childhood trauma can change how brain cells package their DNA. This makes it easier for stress-related genes to be activated, increasing vulnerability to anxiety and depression later in life.
Severe stress during childhood can have long-lasting effects on a person's mental health. Scientists have now discovered a biological process that explains how early trauma can affect the brain. The research team found that stress during childhood changes how brain cells package their DNA, making it easier for stress-related genes to be activated.
The study focused on the ventral tegmental area of the brain, which contains neurons that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in processing experiences. When stress causes these neurons to become abnormally active, reward processing can be disrupted, leading to increased vulnerability to anxiety and depression.
The researchers examined the epigenome inside these dopamine-producing neurons. The epigenome is like a set of instructions that control which genes are turned on or off. They found that early-life stress changes the way DNA is packaged in brain cells, making it more accessible for stress-related genes to be activated.
The team discovered that an enzyme called SETD7 plays a key role in this process. SETD7 adds a chemical marker to the DNA packaging system, making it easier for stress-related genes to be turned on. They tested whether artificially increasing SETD7 levels in young mice could produce these changes. As the animals matured, their dopamine-producing brain cells developed a more open DNA structure, making them more reactive to stress.
The researchers then blocked the molecular
Implications
Scientists at Washington University and Princeton University found that childhood trauma can change how brain cells package their DNA. This makes it easier for stress-related genes to be activated, increasing vulnerability to anxiety and depression later in life.
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