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Early-Life Stress Leaves a Lasting Mark on the Brain
Episode 6 min 30s

Early-Life Stress Leaves a Lasting Mark on the Brain

From Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Dr. Mercola
  • Early-life stress changed how brain cells responded to future challenges in mice, suggesting that adversity during development can leave lasting effects that become apparent when stress returns later in life
  • Researchers found that 75% of the stress-related changes in proteins that help control access to DNA were associated with genes being more open, active or ready for future use
  • Mice whose brains were primed during development showed stronger responses to adult stress, including altered gene activity, more easily activated dopamine neurons and behavioral signs of greater stress sensitivity
  • The affected brain cells weren't constantly overactive, showing that early adversity didn't simply lock the brain into a permanent stress response; the heightened reaction emerged when another stressor occurred
  • Your past doesn't determine your future response to stress; reducing chronic stress, protecting your sleep, allowing time for recovery and maintaining supportive relationships give you practical ways to better handle the pressures you face today

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