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Cheng TW, Mills KL, Pfeifer JH. Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105820. [PMID: 39032845 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
CHENG, T.W., K.L. Mills and J.H. Pfeifer. Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV XX(X) XXX-XXX, 2024. Waves of research and public discourse have characterized adolescence as periods of developmental risk and opportunity. Underlying this discussion is the recognition that adolescence is a period of major biological and social transition when experience may have an outsized effect on development. This article updates and expands upon prior work suggesting that adolescence may be a sensitive period for sociocultural processing specifically. By integrating evidence from developmental psychology and neuroscience, we identify how trajectories of social and neurobiological development may relate to adolescents' ability to adapt to and learn from their social environments. However, we also highlight gaps in the literature, including challenges in attributing developmental change to adolescent experiences. We discuss the importance of better understanding variability in biology (e.g., pubertal development) and cultural environments, as well as distinguishing between sensitive periods and periods of heightened sensitivity. Finally, we look toward future directions and translational implications of this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa W Cheng
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Kathryn L Mills
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA.
| | - Jennifer H Pfeifer
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA.
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2
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Szakács H, Mutlu MC, Balestrieri G, Gombos F, Braun J, Kringelbach ML, Deco G, Kovács I. Navigating Pubertal Goldilocks: The Optimal Pace for Hierarchical Brain Organization. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308364. [PMID: 38489748 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is a timed process with an onset, tempo, and duration. Nevertheless, the temporal dimension, especially the pace of maturation, remains an insufficiently studied aspect of developmental progression. The primary objective is to estimate the precise influence of pubertal maturational tempo on the configuration of associative brain regions. To this end, the connection between maturational stages and the level of hierarchical organization of large-scale brain networks in 12-13-year-old females is analyzed. Skeletal maturity is used as a proxy for pubertal progress. The degree of maturity is defined by the difference between bone age and chronological age. To assess the level of hierarchical organization in the brain, the temporal dynamic of closed eye resting state high-density electroencephalography (EEG) in the alpha frequency range is analyzed. Different levels of hierarchical order are captured by the measured asymmetry in the directionality of information flow between different regions. The calculated EEG-based entropy production of participant groups is then compared with accelerated, average, and decelerated maturity. Results indicate that an average maturational trajectory optimally aligns with cerebral hierarchical order, and both accelerated and decelerated timelines result in diminished cortical organization. This suggests that a "Goldilocks rule" of brain development is favoring a particular maturational tempo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Szakács
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
- Semmelweis University Doctoral School, Division of Mental Health Sciences, 26 Üllői road, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
| | - Murat Can Mutlu
- Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Giulio Balestrieri
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 25-27 Ramon Trias Fargas, Barcelona, 08005, Spain
| | - Ferenc Gombos
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
- HUN-REN-ELTE-PPKE Adolescent Development Research Group, 1 Mikszáth Kálmán Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - Jochen Braun
- Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Morten L Kringelbach
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX3 9BX, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Gustavo Deco
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 25-27 Ramon Trias Fargas, Barcelona, 08005, Spain
- Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 122-140 Carrer de Tànger, Barcelona, 08018, Spain
- Institució Catalana de la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 23 Passeig de Lluís Companys, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Ilona Kovács
- HUN-REN-ELTE-PPKE Adolescent Development Research Group, 1 Mikszáth Kálmán Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, 25-27 Kazinczy Street, Budapest, 1075, Hungary
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Holochwost SJ, Volpe VV, Collins AN, Propper CB, Mills-Koonce WR, Brown ED, Jaffee SR. Allostatic Load in Childhood, Adolescence, and Young Adulthood: Are Assumptions of Measurement Invariance Warranted? Psychosom Med 2024; 86:169-180. [PMID: 38588495 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
OVERVIEW Allostatic load represents the cumulative toll of chronic mobilization of the body's stress response systems, as indexed by biomarkers. Higher levels of stress and disadvantage predict higher levels of allostatic load, which, in turn, predict poorer physical and mental health outcomes. To maximize the efficacy of prevention efforts, screening for stress- and disadvantage-associated health conditions must occur before middle age-that is, during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. However, this requires that models of allostatic load display properties of measurement invariance across age groups. Because most research on allostatic load has featured older adults, it is unclear if these requirements can be met. METHODS To address this question, we fit a series of exploratory and confirmatory analytic models to data on eight biomarkers using a nationally representative sample of N = 4260 children, adolescents, and young adults drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset. RESULTS Exploratory and confirmatory models indicated that, consistent with allostatic load theory, a unidimensional model was a good fit to the data. However, this model did not display properties of measurement invariance; post-hoc analyses suggested that the biomarkers included in the final confirmatory model were most strongly intercorrelated among young adults and most weakly intercorrelated among adolescents. CONCLUSIONS These results underscore the importance of testing assumptions about measurement invariance in allostatic load before drawing substantive conclusions about stress, disadvantage, and health by directly comparing levels of allostatic load across different stages of development, while underscoring the need to expand investigations of measurement invariance to samples of longitudinal data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Holochwost
- From the Department of Psychology (Holochwost), Lehman College, The City University of New York, Bronx, New York; Department of Psychology (Volpe, Collins), North Carolina State University, Raleigh; School of Nursing (Propper) and School of Education (Mills-Koonce), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Psychology (Brown), West Chester University, West Chester; and Department of Psychology (Jaffee), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Chaku N, Barry K. Exploring profiles of hormone exposure: Associations with cognition in a population‐based cohort of early adolescents. INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/icd.2415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Chaku
- Department of Psychology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA
- Psychological and Brain Science Indiana University Bloomington IN USA
| | - Kelly Barry
- Department of Psychology University of Houston Houston Texas USA
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Lewis ME. Exploring adolescence as a key life history stage in bioarchaeology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2022; 179:519-534. [PMCID: PMC9825885 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is a unique period in the life history of an individual. It is characterized by a myriad of changes that bioarchaeologists are only just coming to appreciate, related to sexual maturation, linear growth, immunological transformation, and emotional and cognitive development. New methods allow us to measure this age of transition through the stages of the adolescent growth, as a proxy for the physical development associated with sexual maturation (puberty). This review outlines ways bioarchaeologists may draw on research developments from the fields of human biology, evolutionary theory and neurobiology to advance a more holistic approach to the study of adolescence in the past. It considers current theoretical and analytical approaches to highlight the research potential of this critical stage of life history. This synthesis integrates the most recent research in the medical sciences concerned with body and brain development, and outlines the biological processes involved with sexual and physical maturation of the adolescent. The goal of this review is to help inform potentially rewarding areas of research that bioarchaeologists can contribute to and draw from, as well as the challenges and limitations, theoretical and methodological questions, and ways in which we can develop the study of adolescence in the discipline going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Lewis
- Department of ArchaeologyUniversity of ReadingReadingUK
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de Freitas RS, França TFA, Pompeia S. Sex-specific association between urinary kisspeptin and pubertal development. Endocr Connect 2022; 11:e220165. [PMID: 36006848 PMCID: PMC9578070 DOI: 10.1530/ec-22-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Kisspeptins play a crucial role during pubertal development, but little is known about how their peripheral concentrations relate to sexual maturation. This is partly due to the lack of non-invasive, quick, and reliable peripheral kisspeptin measures, which limit widespread testing. Here, we investigated the relationship between kisspeptin concentrations measured from midstream urine samples with 2-h retention periods and developmental markers (age, self-reported pubertal status, and saliva concentrations of testosterone and DHEA sulphate ) in 209 typically developing 9- to 15-year-old males and females. As a result of the study, we found marked sex differences. Kisspeptin concentrations were similar between sexes until around 12 years of age, but, thereafter, kisspeptin concentrations in females did not change significantly, whereas, in males, there was a clear positive correlation with developmental measures. Our results replicate previous findings regarding kisspeptin concentration changes across the pubertal transition obtained from blood samples, suggesting that measuring these peptides in urine has the potential for exploring kisspeptins' peripheral effects and their associations with pubertal status.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thiago F A França
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabine Pompeia
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Seaton EK, White RMB, Pasco MC, Sheehan C. The associations among racial discrimination, pubertal timing, neighborhoods, and mental health among U.S. Mexican boys. AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2022; 77:678-690. [PMID: 35157477 PMCID: PMC9336515 DOI: 10.1037/amp0000977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The present study addressed gaps in puberty and weathering research by examining the relation between peer racial discrimination, pubertal timing, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and neighborhood context among a longitudinal sample of U.S. Mexican boys. Using three waves of data (N = 383; mean ages: 10.3-15.8 years), we examined the weathering hypothesis: Whether peer racial discrimination experiences in late childhood predicted earlier pubertal timing in adolescence and subsequent mental health problems. We also examined whether variability in youths' neighborhood contexts qualified these associations. Consistent with the weathering hypothesis, exposure to peer racial discrimination in 5th grade, predicated earlier pubertal timing in the 7th grade, which, in turn, predicted increases in internalizing symptoms in the 10th grade. However, this pattern only applied to boys residing in neighborhoods with higher levels of Latinx concentration in 5th grade. Additionally, early timing in the 7th grade predicted increases in externalizing symptoms, but this association was significant only when boys lived in neighborhoods that were lower on Latinx concentration. There was evidence of weathering in context with specific implications for internalizing symptoms, and that neighborhood Latinx concentration was both inhibiting and promoting at unique places in the hypothesized model. The findings advance existing understandings of weathering patterns and individual variation in pubertal timing among U.S. Mexican boys. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor K Seaton
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University
| | - Rebecca M B White
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University
| | - Michelle C Pasco
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University
| | - Connor Sheehan
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University
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Glass DJ, Geerkens JT, Martin MA. Psychosocial and energetic factors on human female pubertal timing: a systematized review. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2022; 4:e28. [PMID: 37588922 PMCID: PMC10426011 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2022.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood psychosocial stressors have been proposed to favour fast life history strategies promoting earlier puberty in females. However, studies demonstrating this association often do not elucidate causal mechanisms, nor account for greater childhood energetic availability - also known to promote rapid growth and earlier puberty. To assess the extent to which such confounding has been considered, we conducted a systematized review to identify studies examining measures of both prepubertal growth (e.g. weight, height) and psychosocial stressors (e.g. adversity, father absence) in relation to female pubertal timing. A total of 1069 non-duplicated studies were identified across five databases. Twenty studies met selection criteria for critical review following independent screening of titles, abstracts and manuscripts. Within these studies, measures indicative of rapid childhood growth were more consistently associated with earlier pubertal timing than were measures of psychosocial stress. We discuss future research directions to investigate the impact of psychosocial stress on pubertal timing more robustly, including methodological and mechanistic considerations, and contextualization of findings by socioecological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaney J. Glass
- University of Washington, Department of Anthropology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Melanie A. Martin
- University of Washington, Department of Anthropology, Seattle, Washington, USA
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9
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Kovács I, Kovács K, Gerván P, Utczás K, Oláh G, Tróznai Z, Berencsi A, Szakács H, Gombos F. Ultrasonic bone age fractionates cognitive abilities in adolescence. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5311. [PMID: 35351941 PMCID: PMC8964807 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09329-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescent development is not only shaped by the mere passing of time and accumulating experience, but it also depends on pubertal timing and the cascade of maturational processes orchestrated by gonadal hormones. Although individual variability in puberty onset confounds adolescent studies, it has not been efficiently controlled for. Here we introduce ultrasonic bone age assessment to estimate biological maturity and disentangle the independent effects of chronological and biological age on adolescent cognitive abilities. Comparing cognitive performance of female participants with different skeletal maturity we uncover the impact of biological age on both IQ and specific abilities. We find that biological age has a selective effect on abilities: more mature individuals within the same age group have higher working memory capacity and processing speed, while those with higher chronological age have better verbal abilities, independently of their maturity. Based on our findings, bone age is a promising biomarker of adolescent maturity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Kovács
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth sq., 1088, Budapest, Hungary. .,Adolescent Development Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences-Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1088, Budapest, Hungary. .,Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Res. Centre for Natural Sciences, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Kristóf Kovács
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1075, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Patrícia Gerván
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth sq., 1088, Budapest, Hungary.,Adolescent Development Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences-Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katinka Utczás
- Research Centre for Sport Physiology, University of Physical Education, 1123, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gyöngyi Oláh
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth sq., 1088, Budapest, Hungary.,Adolescent Development Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences-Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Tróznai
- Research Centre for Sport Physiology, University of Physical Education, 1123, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Berencsi
- Institute for the Methodology of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, Eötvös Loránd University, 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hanna Szakács
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth sq., 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Gombos
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth sq., 1088, Budapest, Hungary.,Adolescent Development Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences-Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
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Whelan E, O'Shea J, Hunt E, Dockray S. Evaluating measures of allostatic load in adolescents: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 131:105324. [PMID: 34198124 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescents can experience heightened stress due to biopsychosocial changes that occur during this developmental stage. The 'wear and tear' of the physiological systems responsible for managing our stress response can lead to dysregulation of these systems, known as allostatic load (AL). AL is commonly measured within adult populations, however, inconsistencies exist across measures used to quantify the effects of stress on health. The aim of this review was to identify variations in measures across AL studies, and to consider how specific measures may be more appropriate for use within adolescent populations. METHOD Pubmed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, were searched in July 2020, using search terms 'allostatic load' and 'adolescence'. AL studies (1988-2020) with an adolescent population (age 10-24 years) were included. 354 records were screened by two reviewers and 41 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. RESULTS 25 studies were included in final synthesis. Biomarkers of AL ranged from 1 to 14. The most common index of AL consisted of 6 biomarkers; cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body-mass index. FINDINGS Defining measures of AL during adolescence may help to identify vulnerabilities specific to adolescents, which may shape their lifelong health trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eadaoin Whelan
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland.
| | - Jen O'Shea
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Eithne Hunt
- Dept. of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Ireland
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11
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Nepomnaschy PA, Rowlands A, Prescivalli Costa AP, Salvante KG. Socio-Ecological Challenges as Modulators of Women's Reproductive Trajectories. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anthro-102317-045930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Amenorrhea, anovulatory cycles, miscarriages, and other reproductive outcomes are often seen as pathological. Life history theory, in contrast, treats those outcomes as adaptations that helped women optimize the timing of reproductive ventures across our evolutionary history. Women's bodies adjust their reproductive strategies in response to socio-ecological conditions, a process mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Here, we review the links between socio-ecological conditions, HPAA activity, and the pace of women's reproductive transitions such as puberty, age at first birth, interbirth interval, and perimenopause. We also discuss the HPAA's role as a modulator of reproductive function: It not only suppresses it but may also prime women's bodies for future reproductive ventures. We conclude by reviewing challenges and opportunities within our subfield, including the need for transdisciplinary teams to develop longitudinal studies to improve our understanding of women's reproductive trajectories and outcomes from the moment they are conceived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A. Nepomnaschy
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Amanda Rowlands
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Ana Paula Prescivalli Costa
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Katrina G. Salvante
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
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12
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DeWitte SN, Lewis M. Medieval menarche: Changes in pubertal timing before and after the Black Death. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 33:e23439. [PMID: 32567154 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bioarcheological evidence suggests stature increased in males but decreased in females after the Black Death (1348-1350 CE). Because tradeoffs between growth and reproduction can result in earlier ages at menarche and lower limb length, we assess menarcheal age between 1120 and 1540 CE to better understand the health of medieval adolescent females before and after the plague. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our sample comprises 74 adolescent females from St. Mary Spital, London (1120-1540 CE) within the age range during which menarche occurs (10-25 years). They were assessed as being pre- or post-menarcheal and divided into three groups: Early Pre-Black Death (n = 13), Late Pre-Black Death (n = 38), and Post-Black Death (n = 23). Changes in the ages of pre- and post-menarcheal females were assessed using Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS The average age of post-menarcheal females increased from the Early- to Late Pre-Black Death periods and declined after the Black Death. CONCLUSIONS Short stature can reflect unfavorable growth environments, while younger menarcheal age indicates improved living conditions. The paradoxical pattern of female, but not male, stature reduction after the Black Death might reflect the association of early menarche with lower limb length and signal that adolescent females experienced improved health conditions after the epidemic. Our focus on pre- and post-menarche within a limited age span provides a novel approach for inferring average ages of menarche over time. Pathways to skeletal development and reproductive investment are part of an integrated system, providing a bridge between life history research in bioarchaeology and human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon N DeWitte
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Mary Lewis
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, England, UK
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13
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Yu W, Sulistyoningrum DC, Gasevic D, Xu R, Julia M, Murni IK, Chen Z, Lu P, Guo Y, Li S. Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 and fasting plasma glucose in non-diabetic adolescents in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 257:113423. [PMID: 31677868 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indonesia is facing serious air pollution. However, very few studies have been conducted to examine the health risks of air pollution in Indonesia, particularly for adolescents. OBJECTIVE To assess the association between long-term exposure to ambient particles with a diameter of <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in adolescents. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 482 adolescents aged 14-18 years in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2016. We finally included 469 (97.30%) participants who had no missing data for data analysis. We collected individual data on socio-demographics, behavioral habits, and health information through standardized questionnaires. Satellite-based PM2.5 concentrations from 2013 to 2016 were assigned based on participants' residential addresses. The association between PM2.5 and FPG was examined using a generalized linear regression model while FPG was modeled as a continuous variable. An ordered logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between PM2.5 and FPG categories. RESULTS Every 1 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 0.34 mg/dL [95 confidence interval (95% CI): 0.08 mg/dL, 0.59 mg/dL] increase in FPG levels. Comparing with the low FPG level (under 86 mg/dL), every 1 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 10.20% (95% CI: 1.60%, 19.80%) increase in the odds of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (100-125 mg/dL). Stratified analyses indicated greater effects on participants with hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.57] and those had higher physical activities (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.57). Adolescents' sex, obesity status and different cutoff points of FPG did not modify the association between the exposure to PM2.5 and FPG levels. CONCLUSION Long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased FPG levels in Indonesian non-diabetic adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Yu
- School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, 346 Guanhai Road, Yantai, 264003, PR China; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Dian Caturini Sulistyoningrum
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jalan Farmako Sekip Utara, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Danijela Gasevic
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia; Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Rongbin Xu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Madarina Julia
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/ Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Jalan Kesehatan, Sekip, Yogyakarta, 55284, Indonesia
| | - Indah Kartika Murni
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/ Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Jalan Kesehatan, Sekip, Yogyakarta, 55284, Indonesia
| | - Zhuying Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 203 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Peng Lu
- School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, 346 Guanhai Road, Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Yuming Guo
- School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, 346 Guanhai Road, Yantai, 264003, PR China; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
| | - Shanshan Li
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
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Dorn LD, Susman EJ. Fostering the Developmental Science of Puberty: Tackling Deficits and Enhancing Dissemination. J Adolesc Health 2019; 64:561-562. [PMID: 30894308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorah D Dorn
- College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
| | - Elizabeth J Susman
- Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
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Dorn LD, Susman EJ. The New Biobehavioral Developmental Science of Puberty. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2019; 29:4-8. [PMID: 30869840 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This special section is the product of a small-group meeting of those who study puberty and its relevance. Our aim was to gather information and write manuscripts to inform scientists of advances and continuing obstacles, as well as to stimulate interdisciplinary research on puberty relevant across the lifespan. The themes of the nine position or review papers (and commentary), range from cell to society. We hope this introduction will entice you to read all the papers and consider how they apply or expand your next steps in research or help you synthesize the literature on puberty. We anticipate the papers can embellish your adolescent courses, and, for junior scientists, we hope the many intriguing possibilities for future research on puberty will be apparent.
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Livadas S, Chrousos GP. Molecular and Environmental Mechanisms Regulating Puberty Initiation: An Integrated Approach. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:828. [PMID: 31920956 PMCID: PMC6915095 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the initiation of puberty, one of the cornerstones of human evolution, have not been fully elucidated as yet. However, recently, an accumulating body of evidence has helped unravel several critical aspects of the process. It is clear that a change in the pattern of pituitary gonadotropin secretion serves as a hormonal trigger for puberty induction. This change is directly guided by the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generation, a phenomenon regulated by the Kisspeptin-Neurokinin-Dynorphin (KNDy) system also in the hypothalamus. This represents the kisspeptin molecule, which is crucial in augmenting GnRH secretion at puberty, whose secretion is fine-tuned by the opposing signals neurokinin B and dynorphin. Recently, the novel kisspeptin inhibitory signal MKRN3 was described, whose role in puberty initiation provided further insight into the mechanistic aspects of pubertal onset. Furthermore, the description of higher inhibitory and stimulatory signals acting upstream of the KNDy neurons suggested that the trigger point of puberty is located upstream of the KNDy system and the GnRH pulse generator. However, the mechanism of pubertal onset should not be considered as an isolated closed loop system. On the contrary, it is influenced by such factors as adipose tissue, gastrointestinal function, adrenal androgen production, energy sensing, and physical and psychosocial stress. Also, fetal and early life stressful events, as well as exposure to endocrine disruptors, may play important roles in pubertal initiation, the latter primarily through epigenetic modifications. Here we present the available data in the field and attempt to provide an integrated view of this unique and crucial phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarantis Livadas
- Endocrine Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, Athens, Greece
- *Correspondence: Sarantis Livadas
| | - George P. Chrousos
- UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- George P. Chrousos
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