Researchers uncover how maternal stress and depression can leave a lasting mark on infant DNA, revealing new epigenetic links between mental health and child development. Study: Association between maternal perinatal stress and depression and infant DNA methylation in the first year of life . Image Credit: Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry , researchers investigated associations between maternal perinatal depression and stress and infant DNA methylation (DNAm).
Depression and stress during pregnancy and the first year of the child’s life affect a considerable proportion of mothers. Gestation and the initial years of life are critical and sensitive periods for child development, and stress can affect a child's developmental trajectory. Maternal depression and stress in pregnancy have been linked to adverse outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight.
Mother-infant interactions in the first year of life contribute to the cognitive and behavioral development of the child. Postpartum stress/depression has been associated with delayed cognitive development and behavioral dysfunction. However, the biological pathways linking maternal stress/depression to poor child health outcomes are still largely unknown.
About the Study Gene-specific findings: Several genes associated with differential DNA methylation in infants, such as BRD2 and ERC2, are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders and conditions like epileps.