A new study in Gastroenterology connects early life stress to long-term gut issues through disruptions in gut-brain communication. Mouse experiments and large human cohorts show links to pain, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers suggest targeted treatments based on specific biological pathways.
Researchers from NYU College of Dentistry's Pain Research Center have published findings in Gastroenterology indicating that stress in early life, such as maternal separation or parental depression, alters gut-brain interactions, leading to persistent digestive disorders. The study combined mouse models with data from over 40,000 Danish children and nearly 12,000 US participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. In mice subjected to daily maternal separation, adults displayed heightened gut pain, anxiety-like behavior, and sex-specific motility problems—diarrhea in females and constipation in males. Experiments identified distinct pathways: sympathetic nerve signaling for motility, sex hormones for pain, and serotonin for both. Human data confirmed elevated risks for conditions like nausea, functional constipation, colic, and irritable bowel syndrome, particularly among children of mothers with untreated depression during pregnancy. Unlike mice, no sex differences appeared in human digestive outcomes at ages 9-10. Kara Margolis, director of the NYU Pain Research Center, stated, 'Our research shows that these stressors can have a real impact on a child's development and may influence gut issues long-term. Understanding the mechanisms involved can help us to create more targeted treatments.' She added that clinicians should inquire about childhood history when treating gut-brain disorders. Margolis emphasized treating maternal depression during pregnancy, potentially with placenta-sparing antidepressants. Lead author Sarah Najjar and colleagues from NYU, Columbia University, and the University of Southern Denmark contributed to the work, supported by NIH and other grants.
