Ripple Effects of Early Life Stress on Vascular Health.
Abstract
The term early life stress encompasses traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 years, such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, household dysfunctions, sexual abuse, childhood neglect, child maltreatment, and adverse childhood experiences. Adverse psychological experiences in early life are linked to enduring effects on mental and physical health in adulthood. In this review, we first describe the effects and potential mechanisms of early life stress on the components of the vasculature. Next, we dive into the impact of early life stress on the vasculature across the lifespan through alterations of the epigenetic landscape. Finally, we consolidate the critical gaps in knowledge for focusing future research including the potential for resilience in combatting the impact of early life stress on vascular health.
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Research summary
Early life stress has lasting effects on vascular health through epigenetic changes. The paper is relevant as it explores the long-term impacts of early life stress on vascular health, which can contribute to understanding mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases.
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