Environmental influences on the pace of brain development

Nature reviews. Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 22(6), P. 372 - 384

Published: April 28, 2021

Childhood socio-economic status (SES), a measure of the availability material and social resources, is one strongest predictors lifelong well-being. Here we review evidence that experiences associated with childhood SES affect not only outcome but also pace brain development. We argue higher protracted structural development prolonged trajectory functional network segregation, ultimately leading to more efficient cortical networks in adulthood. hypothesize greater exposure chronic stress accelerates maturation, whereas access novel positive decelerates maturation. discuss impact variation on plasticity learning. provide generative theoretical framework catalyse future basic science translational research environmental influences Evidence suggests can its rate. Tooley, Bassett Mackey this suggest valence frequency early interact influence

Language: Английский

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A predictable home environment may protect child mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Neurobiology of Stress, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 14, P. 100291 - 100291

Published: Jan. 10, 2021

Information about the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent and adult mental health is growing, yet impacts preschool children are only emerging. Importantly, environmental factors that augment or protect from multidimensional stressful influences emotional development young poorly understood.Depressive symptoms in 169 (mean age 4.1 years) were assessed with Preschool Feelings Checklist during a state-wide stay-at-home order Southern California. Mothers (46% Latinx) also reported externalizing behaviors Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire. To assess role child we examined household income, food insecurity, parental essential worker status loss job, as well preservation structure children's daily experiences Family Routines Inventory.Sixty-one percent families' incomes below living wage 50% had at least one parent who was an worker. Overall, preschoolers' depressive elevated compared to pre-COVID norms. Practice family routines robustly predicted better health, this protective effect persisted after covarying dual-parent insecurity maternal depression stress.The stress exacting significant toll children. maintaining structured, predicable home environment by adherence appears mitigate these effects, providing empiric basis for public recommendations.

Language: Английский

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Early stress-induced impaired microglial pruning of excitatory synapses on immature CRH-expressing neurons provokes aberrant adult stress responses

Cell Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38(13), P. 110600 - 110600

Published: March 1, 2022

Several mental illnesses, characterized by aberrant stress reactivity, often arise after early-life adversity (ELA). However, it is unclear how ELA affects stress-related brain circuit maturation, provoking these enduring vulnerabilities. We find that increases functional excitatory synapses onto stress-sensitive hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons, resulting from disrupted developmental synapse pruning adjacent microglia. Microglial process dynamics and synaptic element engulfment were attenuated in mice, associated with deficient signaling of the microglial phagocytic receptor MerTK. Accordingly, selective chronic chemogenetic activation microglia increased reduced density to control levels. Notably, normalized adult acute responses, including stress-induced secretion behavioral threat as well adrenal hypertrophy mice. Thus, actions during development are powerful contributors mechanisms which sculpts connectivity stress-regulating promoting vulnerability illnesses.

Language: Английский

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Cognitive Aging and the Promise of Physical Activity

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(1), P. 417 - 442

Published: Jan. 19, 2022

Is the field of cognitive aging irretrievably concerned with decline and deficits, or is it shifting to emphasize hope preservation enhancement function in late life? A fragment an answer comes from research attempting understand reasons for individual variability extent rate decline. This body work has created a sense optimism based on evidence that there are some health behaviors amplify performance mitigate age-related In this context, we discuss role physical activity neurocognitive adulthood summarize how can be conceptualized as constructive approach both maintenance therapeutic enhancing optimizing life. way, used shape perceptions aging.

Language: Английский

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Early life adversity shapes neural circuit function during sensitive postnatal developmental periods

Translational Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Aug. 1, 2022

Abstract Early life adversity (ELA) is a major risk factor for mental illness, but the neurobiological mechanisms by which ELA increases future psychopathology are still poorly understood. Brain development particularly malleable during prenatal and early postnatal life, when complex neural circuits being formed refined through an interplay of excitatory inhibitory input, synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination, neurogenesis. Adversity that influences these processes sensitive periods can thus have long-lasting pervasive effects on circuit maturation. In this review, we will discuss clinical preclinical evidence impact formation with focus period, how impairments in affect behavior. We provide converging from human animal studies alters functional brain regions, circuits, neurotransmitter systems crucial cognition affective behavior, including hippocampus, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, networks fear responses cognition, serotonin (5-HT) system. also gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions determine individual differences susceptibility resilience to ELA, as well molecular pathways regulates development, emphasize epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding underlying function may great potential advance strategies better treat or prevent psychiatric disorders their origin life.

Language: Английский

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Annual Research Review: The power of predictability – patterns of signals in early life shape neurodevelopment and mental health trajectories

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 65(4), P. 508 - 534

Published: Feb. 20, 2024

The global burden of early life adversity (ELA) is profound. World Health Organization has estimated that ELA accounts for almost 30% all psychiatric cases. Yet, our ability to identify which individuals exposed will develop mental illness remains poor and there a critical need underlying pathways mechanisms. This review proposes unpredictability as an understudied aspect tractable presents conceptual model includes biologically plausible mechanistic by impacts the developing brain. supported synthesis published new data illustrating significant patterns signals on child development. We begin with overview existing literature, focused primarily longer (e.g. years, months, days). then describe work testing impact parental moment‐to‐moment timescale, providing evidence these during sensitive windows development influence neurocircuit formation across species thus may be evolutionarily conserved process shapes Next, attention drawn emerging themes provide framework future directions research including evaluation functions, such effortful control, particularly vulnerable unpredictability, periods, sex differences, cross‐cultural investigations, addressing causality, pathway other forms Finally, we suggestions prevention intervention, introduction screening instrument identification children unpredictable experiences.

Language: Английский

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Neurodevelopmental Optimization after Early-Life Adversity: Cross-Species Studies to Elucidate Sensitive Periods and Brain Mechanisms to Inform Early Intervention

Trends in Neurosciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 43(10), P. 744 - 751

Published: Aug. 27, 2020

Language: Английский

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Prenatal maternal mood patterns predict child temperament and adolescent mental health

Journal of Affective Disorders, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 228, P. 83 - 90

Published: Nov. 14, 2017

Language: Английский

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Plasticity of the Reward Circuitry After Early-Life Adversity: Mechanisms and Significance

Biological Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 87(10), P. 875 - 884

Published: Dec. 24, 2019

Language: Английский

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Early Adversity and Development: Parsing Heterogeneity and Identifying Pathways of Risk and Resilience

American Journal of Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 178(11), P. 998 - 1013

Published: Nov. 1, 2021

Adversity early in life is common and a major risk factor for the onset of psychopathology. Delineating neurodevelopmental pathways by which adversity affects mental health critical identification targeted treatment approaches. A rapidly growing cross-species literature has facilitated advances identifying mechanisms linking with psychopathology, specific dimensions timing-related factors that differentially relate to outcomes, protective buffer against effects adversity. Yet, vast complexity heterogeneity environments trajectories contribute challenges understanding resilience context In this overview, author highlights progress four areas—mechanisms, heterogeneity, developmental timing, factors; synthesizes key challenges; provides recommendations future research can facilitate field. Translation across species ongoing refinement conceptual models have strong potential inform prevention intervention strategies reduce immense burden psychopathology associated

Language: Английский

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