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Ding W, Xu Y, Kondracki AJ, Sun Y. Childhood adversity and accelerated reproductive events: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 230:315-329.e31. [PMID: 37820985 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Accelerated female reproductive events represent the early onset of reproductive events involving puberty, menarche, pregnancy loss, first sexual intercourse, first birth, parity, and menopause. This study aimed to explore the association between childhood adversity and accelerated female reproductive events. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched from September 22, 2022 to September 23, 2022. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Observational cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies in human populations were included if they reported the time of reproductive events for female individuals with experience of childhood adversity and were published in English. METHODS Two reviewers independently screened studies, obtained data, and assessed study quality, and conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer. Dichotomous outcomes were evaluated using meta-analysis, and pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were generated using random-effects models. Moderation analysis and meta-regression were used to investigate heterogeneity. RESULTS In total, 21 cohort studies, 9 cross-sectional studies, and 3 case-control studies were identified. Overall, female individuals with childhood adversity were nearly 2 times more likely to report accelerated reproductive events than those with no adversity exposure (odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.76; I2=99.6%; P<.001). Moderation analysis indicated that effect sizes for the types of childhood adversity ranged from an odds ratio of 1.61 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.09) for low socioeconomic status to 2.13 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-3.99) for dysfunctional family dynamics. Among the 7 groups based on different reproductive events, including early onset of puberty, early menarche, early sexual initiation, teenage childbirth, preterm birth, pregnancy loss, and early menopause, early sexual initiation had a nonsignificant correlation with childhood adversity (odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-8.30; I2=99.9%; P<.001). Considerable heterogeneity (I2>75%) between estimates was observed for over half of the outcomes. Age, study type, and method of data collection could explain 35.9% of the variance. CONCLUSION The literature tentatively corroborates that female individuals who reported adverse events in childhood are more likely to experience accelerated reproductive events. This association is especially strong for exposure to abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics. However, the heterogeneity among studies was high, requiring caution in interpreting the findings and highlighting the need for further evaluation of the types and timing of childhood events that influence accelerated female reproductive events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqin Ding
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuxiang Xu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Anthony J Kondracki
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Maayan L, Maayan M. Inflammatory mediation of the relationship between early adversity and major depressive disorder: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 169:364-377. [PMID: 38154266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Early adverse experience is related to psychiatric illness that occurs decades later. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been fully identified. There is a translational and clinical literature linking early adversity with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and inflammation. We reviewed articles that examine whether inflammation mediates this relationship. METHODS Literature review of PUB MED, CINAHL and APA Psycinfo articles that explicitly examine inflammation as a mediator between early adversity and depression using ((((((((((adversity) OR (trauma)) OR (maltreatment)) OR (child abuse)) AND (inflammation)) OR (inflammatory cytokines)) OR (crp)) OR (il-6)) OR (tnf)) AND (mediates)) AND (depression))))))))) as key words. RESULTS 2842 articles were initially identified. 1338 non-human studies were excluded and 512 more were filtered out as reviews. The remaining 992 titles and, when necessary, abstracts and manuscripts were reviewed and 956 were removed as being of other non-related phenomena. Four additional studies were added by hand searching the references of remaining studies. Out of these 40, 15 explicitly examined inflammation as a mediator of the relationship between early adversity and later depression. Approximately half (8/15) showed evidence that inflammation mediated the relationship between early adversity and depression. Sensitivity analyses showed that studies taking place in clinical populations, in youth and those that used the Adverse Childhood Events Scale to measure adversity, and IL-6 and TNF-α (as opposed to CRP) to measure inflammation were most likely to show mediation. CONCLUSIONS There is evidence to support the model of inflammation mediating the relationship between early adversity and depression. Certain measures in clinical populations appear more likely to support this model. Further study with more standardized, robust methods will help to answer this question more definitively and may elucidate a subtype of depression related to early adversity by alterations in immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Maayan
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Michal Maayan
- Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, USA
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Yu Y, Hou L, Wu Y, Yu Y, Liu X, Wu S, He Y, Ge Y, Wei Y, Qian F, Luo Q, Feng Y, Cheng X, Yu T, Li H, Xue F. Causal associations between female reproductive behaviors and psychiatric disorders: a lifecourse Mendelian randomization study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:799. [PMID: 37915018 PMCID: PMC10621101 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05203-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The timings of reproductive life events have been examined to be associated with various psychiatric disorders. However, studies have not considered the causal pathways from reproductive behaviors to different psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to investigate the nature of the relationships between five reproductive behaviors and twelve psychiatric disorders. METHODS Firstly, we calculated genetic correlations between reproductive factors and psychiatric disorders. Then two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to estimate the causal associations among five reproductive behaviors, and these reproductive behaviors on twelve psychiatric disorders, using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data from genetic consortia. Multivariable MR was then applied to evaluate the direct effect of reproductive behaviors on these psychiatric disorders whilst accounting for other reproductive factors at different life periods. RESULTS Univariable MR analyses provide evidence that age at menarche, age at first sexual intercourse and age at first birth have effects on one (depression), seven (anxiety disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, bipolar disorder II, depression, PTSD and schizophrenia) and three psychiatric disorders (ADHD, depression and PTSD) (based on p<7.14×10-4), respectively. However, after performing multivariable MR, only age at first sexual intercourse has direct effects on five psychiatric disorders (Depression, Attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder, Bipolar disorder, Posttraumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia) when accounting for other reproductive behaviors with significant effects in univariable analyses. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that reproductive behaviors predominantly exert their detrimental effects on psychiatric disorders and age at first sexual intercourse has direct effects on psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Hou
- Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yutong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinhui Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sijia Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yina He
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilei Ge
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengtong Qian
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingxin Luo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Feng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Cheng
- Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong Province, Jinan, China
| | - Tiangui Yu
- Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongkai Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fuzhong Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, , Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
- Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
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Kling JM, Saadedine M, Faubion SS, Shufelt CL, Mara KC, Enders FT, David PS, Kapoor E. Associations between childhood adversity and age at natural menopause. Menopause 2023; 30:1085-1089. [PMID: 37643394 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are reported in more than half of the women in the United States and have been shown to negatively impact the menopause experience. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between ACEs and age at natural menopause. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study conducted among participants of the Data Registry on the Experiences of Aging, Menopause, and Sexuality (DREAMS). The registry included women who were seen for consultations in the women's health clinic at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, between May 2015 and December 2016. Only postmenopausal women were included in this analysis. Childhood adversity was assessed with the validated ACE questionnaire. Age at natural menopause was self-reported. The association between ACEs and age at menopause was evaluated using a multivariable linear regression model adjusting for multiple confounders. RESULTS A total of 350 women were evaluated. The mean age was 59.2 years, and a majority were White (92.9%), married/partnered (82%), and educated (91.2% with at least some college education). Women with a history of at least four ACEs were estimated to reach natural menopause 1.3 years sooner than women with no ACE in multivariable analysis, but the results were not statistically significant (95% confidence interval, -3.2 to 0.6; P = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS Although stressful life experiences such as ACEs may negatively influence health for midlife women, this study did not find an association with the age at natural menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Paru S David
- From the Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
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Bar-Sadeh B, Pnueli L, Keestra S, Bentley GR, Melamed P. Srd5a1 is Differentially Regulated and Methylated During Prepubertal Development in the Ovary and Hypothalamus. J Endocr Soc 2023; 7:bvad108. [PMID: 37646011 PMCID: PMC10461783 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvad108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
5α-reductase-1 catalyzes production of various steroids, including neurosteroids. We reported previously that expression of its encoding gene, Srd5a1, drops in murine ovaries and hypothalamic preoptic area (POA) after early-life immune stress, seemingly contributing to delayed puberty and ovarian follicle depletion, and in the ovaries the first intron was more methylated at two CpGs. Here, we hypothesized that this CpG-containing locus comprises a methylation-sensitive transcriptional enhancer for Srd5a1. We found that ovarian Srd5a1 mRNA increased 8-fold and methylation of the same two CpGs decreased up to 75% between postnatal days 10 and 30. Estradiol (E2) levels rise during this prepubertal stage, and exposure of ovarian cells to E2 increased Srd5a1 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation in an ovarian cell line confirmed ESR1 binding to this differentially methylated genomic region and enrichment of the enhancer modification, H3K4me1. Targeting dCas9-DNMT3 to this locus increased CpG2 methylation 2.5-fold and abolished the Srd5a1 response to E2. In the POA, Srd5a1 mRNA levels decreased 70% between postnatal days 7 and 10 and then remained constant without correlation to CpG methylation levels. Srd5a1 mRNA levels did not respond to E2 in hypothalamic GT1-7 cells, even after dCas9-TET1 reduced CpG1 methylation by 50%. The neonatal drop in POA Srd5a1 expression occurs at a time of increasing glucocorticoids, and treatment of GT1-7 cells with dexamethasone reduced Srd5a1 mRNA levels; chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed glucocorticoid receptor binding at the enhancer. Our findings on the tissue-specific regulation of Srd5a1 and its methylation-sensitive control by E2 in the ovaries illuminate epigenetic mechanisms underlying reproductive phenotypic variation that impact life-long health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bar-Sadeh
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Lilach Pnueli
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Sarai Keestra
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | | | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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Kardaş B, Kardaş Ö, Demiral M, Özbek MN. Early puberty paradox: an investigation of anxiety levels of mothers and children, children's quality of life, and psychiatric diagnoses. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:3775-3783. [PMID: 37335399 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Early puberty signs lead to an increase in anxiety levels of parents and children. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life and anxiety levels of girls and their mothers who were admitted to a pediatric endocrinology clinic with concerns about early puberty. Girls and their mothers who were admitted to endocrinology outpatient clinic with concerns about early puberty were compared to healthy control group. Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) parent form, Quality of Life for Children Scale (PedsQL) parent form, and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to the mothers. Children were evaluated with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (Kiddie-SADS Lifetime Version) (K-SADS-PL). The study sample consisted of 92 girls and 62 of them were administered to clinic with concerns about early puberty. There were 30 girls in early puberty group (group 1), 32 girls were in the normal development group (group 2), and 30 were in the healthy control group (group 3). The anxiety level of group 1 and group 2 was significantly higher, and their quality of life was significantly lower when compared to group 3 (p < 0.001). Mother's anxiety level was found significantly higher in group 2 (p < 0.001). It has shown that anxiety level and quality of life of children were associated with anxiety level of mothers and the current Tanner stage (r = 0.302, p < 0.005). Conclusion: Mothers and children who have concerns about early puberty are negatively affected when early puberty is a possibility. For this reason, educating parents will prevent negative impacts of this situation on children. At the same time, it will decrease health burden. What is Known? • Early adolescence is one of the most common reasons for admission to pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinics. It is known that increasing early adolescence anxiety in the society causes cost and time losses in the field of health. However, studies investigating the reasons for this result are limited in the literature. What's New? • The level of anxiety increased significantly in girls with suspected precocious puberty and their mothers, and their quality of life was affected. • For this reason, we would like to emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approaches before psychiatric disorders occur in children with suspected precocious puberty and their parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Kardaş
- School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Ömer Kardaş
- School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Meliha Demiral
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Balıkesir Atatürk City Hospital, Balıkesir, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Nuri Özbek
- Department of Pediatric Endokrinology, Mardin Artuklu University School of Medicine, Mardin, Turkey
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Street ME, Ponzi D, Renati R, Petraroli M, D’Alvano T, Lattanzi C, Ferrari V, Rollo D, Stagi S. Precocious puberty under stressful conditions: new understanding and insights from the lessons learnt from international adoptions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1149417. [PMID: 37201098 PMCID: PMC10187034 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1149417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuro-biological variations in the timing of sexual maturation within a species are part of an evolved strategy that depend on internal and external environmental conditions. An increased incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) has been described in both adopted and "covid-19 pandemic" children. Until recently, it was hypothesised that the triggers for CPP in internationally adopted children were likely to be better nutrition, greater environmental stability, and improved psychological wellbeing. However, following data collected during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, other possibilities must be considered. In a society with high levels of child wellbeing, the threat to life presented by an unknown and potentially serious disease and the stressful environment created by lockdowns and other public health measures could trigger earlier pubertal maturation as an evolutionary response to favour early reproduction. The main driver for increased rates of precocious and rapidly progressive puberty during the pandemic could have been the environment of "fear and stress" in schools and households. In many children, CPP may have been triggered by the psychological effects of living without normal social contact, using PPE, being near adults concerned about financial and other issues and the fear of getting ill. The features and time of progression of CPP in children during the pandemic are similar to those observed in adopted children. This review considers the mechanisms regulating puberty with a focus on neurobiological and evolutionary mechanisms, and analyses precocious puberty both during the pandemic and in internationally adopted children searching for common yet unconsidered factors in an attempt to identify the factors which may have acted as triggers. In particular, we focus on stress as a potential factor in the early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and its correlation with rapid sexual maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elisabeth Street
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maria Elisabeth Street,
| | - Davide Ponzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Renati
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology and Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maddalena Petraroli
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana D’Alvano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Lattanzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Vittorio Ferrari
- Health Sciences Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Dolores Rollo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Stagi
- Health Sciences Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero Univesitaria Meyer IRCCS, Florence, Italy
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Pringle D, Suliman S, Seedat S, van den Heuvel LL. The impact of childhood maltreatment on women's reproductive health, with a focus on symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 133:105831. [PMID: 35985071 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment leads to lifelong health risks, particularly in women. Although reproductive health has been linked to such maltreatment, limited literature exists on its association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). OBJECTIVES In a sample of psychiatrically healthy women, we evaluated the impact of child maltreatment (subtypes of abuse and neglect) on women's reproductive health outcomes, specifically PCOS. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The 237 psychiatrically healthy women, aged between 18 and 79 years, were control participants in a case-control study (SHARED ROOTS), conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, between May 2014 and June 2017. METHODS Probable PCOS was based on a history of symptoms of ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism or a diagnosis of PCOS. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression models to assess which child maltreatment subtypes (emotional, physical and sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect) were significantly associated with PCOS, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors. RESULTS Probable PCOS was present in 29 (12.2 %) women. Emotional abuse (31.6 %) was the most frequent type of child maltreatment and was significantly associated with PCOS (OR = 5.11, CI 1.87; 13.98), including when other maltreatment types were accounted for (OR = 3.90, CI 1.27; 12.02). Physical abuse was associated with PCOS (OR = 4.21, CI 1.43; 12.38), but was not significant when other maltreatment types were factored in. CONCLUSIONS Child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women without psychiatric disorders. In the context of all maltreatment subtypes, emotional abuse remained associated with PCOS, suggesting its unique effect on this endocrinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre Pringle
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sharain Suliman
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Leigh Luella van den Heuvel
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Sartin-Tarm A, Lorenz T. Sexual Trauma Moderates Hormonal Mediators of Women’s Sexual Function. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11930-022-00337-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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10
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Woo JM, Simanek A, O’Brien KM, Parks C, Gaston S, Auer PL, Konkel RH, Jackson CL, Meier HC, Sandler DP. Latent Class Models of Early-life Trauma and Incident Breast Cancer. Epidemiology 2022; 33:729-738. [PMID: 35580243 PMCID: PMC9378657 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial trauma has been hypothesized to influence breast cancer risk, but little is known about how co-occurring traumas-particularly during early life-may impact incidence. We examine the relationship between multiple measures of early-life trauma and incident breast cancer. METHODS The Sister Study is a prospective cohort study of US women (n = 50,884; enrollment 2003-2009; ages 35-74). Of 45,961 eligible participants, 3,070 developed invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ through 2017. We assessed trauma before age 18 using previously studied measures (cumulative score, individual trauma type, and substantive domain) and a six-class latent variable to evaluate co-occurring traumas. We accounted for missing data using multiple imputation and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional-hazards models. RESULTS Approximately 49% of participants reported early-life trauma. Using the latent class variable approach, breast cancer hazard was higher among participants who had sexual trauma or household dysfunction (HR = 1.1; CI = 0.93, 1.3) or moderate (HR = 1.2; CI = 0.99, 1.4) but not high trauma (HR = 0.66; CI = 0.44, 0.99) compared to low trauma. Breast cancer HRs associated with sexual early-life trauma or household dysfunction were elevated for pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer and by estrogen receptor status. We found no effect modification by race-ethnicity. Estimated effects were attenuated with report of constant childhood social support. CONCLUSIONS Breast cancer incidence varied by latent patterns of co-occurring early-life trauma. Models capturing childhood social support and trauma patterning, rather than cumulative or discrete indicators, may be more meaningful in breast cancer risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M.P. Woo
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amanda Simanek
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Katie M. O’Brien
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christine Parks
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Symielle Gaston
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul L. Auer
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rebecca Headley Konkel
- Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Chandra L. Jackson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Intramural Program, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Helen C.S. Meier
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dale P. Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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11
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Yang A, Zhu N, Lu HJ, Chang L. Environmental risks, life history strategy, and developmental psychology. Psych J 2022; 11:433-447. [DOI: 10.1002/pchj.561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anting Yang
- Department of Psychology University of Macau Macau China
| | - Nan Zhu
- Department of Psychology University of Macau Macau China
| | - Hui Jing Lu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong
| | - Lei Chang
- Department of Psychology University of Macau Macau China
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12
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Childhood maltreatment and the menopause transition in a cohort of midlife New Zealand women. Menopause 2022; 29:816-822. [DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000001976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Pham HT, DiLalla LF, Corley RP, Dorn LD, Berenbaum SA. Family environmental antecedents of pubertal timing in girls and boys: A review and open questions. Horm Behav 2022; 138:105101. [PMID: 35124424 PMCID: PMC9261775 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Across nonhuman species, pubertal timing is affected by the social environment, with consequences for reproductive success and behavior. In human beings, variations in pubertal timing have not been systematically examined in relation to social environmental antecedents, although their psychological consequences are well documented. This paper focuses on links in human beings between pubertal timing and the childhood social environment, with several sections: A review of studies relating pubertal timing to the family context, a key aspect of the social environment; challenges in studying the issue; and opportunities for future work that takes advantage of and creates links with evidence in other species. The review shows that pubertal timing in girls is accelerated by adversity in aspects of the early family social context, with effects small in size; data in boys are not sufficient to enable conclusions. Inferences from existing studies are limited by variations in conceptualizations and measurement of relevant aspects of puberty and of the family social environment, and by methodological issues (e.g., reliance on existing data, use of retrospective reports, nonrandom missing data). Open questions remain about the nature, mechanisms, and specificity of the links between early family social environment and pubertal timing (e.g., form of associations, consideration of absence of positive experiences, role of timing of exposure). Animal studies provide a useful guide for addressing these questions, by delineating potential hormonal mechanisms that underlie links among social context, pubertal timing, and behavior, and encouraging attention to aspects of the social environment outside the family, especially peers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly T Pham
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 453 Moore, PA 16802, United States
| | - Lisabeth F DiLalla
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, 6503, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, United States
| | - Robin P Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, 447 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Lorah D Dorn
- College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 313 Nursing Sciences, PA 16802, United States; Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, United States
| | - Sheri A Berenbaum
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 453 Moore, PA 16802, United States; Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, United States.
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14
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Bar-Sadeh B, Amichai OE, Pnueli L, Begum K, Leeman G, Emes RD, Stöger R, Bentley GR, Melamed P. Epigenetic regulation of 5α reductase-1 underlies adaptive plasticity of reproductive function and pubertal timing. BMC Biol 2022; 20:11. [PMID: 34996447 PMCID: PMC8742331 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01219-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Women facing increased energetic demands in childhood commonly have altered adult ovarian activity and shorter reproductive lifespan, possibly comprising a strategy to optimize reproductive success. Here, we sought to understand the mechanisms of early-life programming of reproductive function, by integrating analysis of reproductive tissues in an appropriate mouse model with methylation analysis of proxy tissue DNA in a well-characterized population of Bangladeshi migrants in the UK. Bangladeshi women whose childhood was in Bangladesh were found to have later pubertal onset and lower age-matched ovarian reserve than Bangladeshi women who grew-up in England. Subsequently, we aimed to explore the potential relevance to the altered reproductive phenotype of one of the genes that emerged from the screens. Results Of the genes associated with differential methylation in the Bangladeshi women whose childhood was in Bangladesh as compared to Bangladeshi women who grew up in the UK, 13 correlated with altered expression of the orthologous gene in the mouse model ovaries. These mice had delayed pubertal onset and a smaller ovarian reserve compared to controls. The most relevant of these genes for reproductive function appeared to be SRD5A1, which encodes the steroidogenic enzyme 5α reductase-1. SRD5A1 was more methylated at the same transcriptional enhancer in mice ovaries as in the women’s buccal DNA, and its expression was lower in the hypothalamus of the mice as well, suggesting a possible role in the central control of reproduction. The expression of Kiss1 and Gnrh was also lower in these mice compared to controls, and inhibition of 5α reductase-1 reduced Kiss1 and Gnrh mRNA levels and blocked GnRH release in GnRH neuronal cell cultures. Crucially, we show that inhibition of this enzyme in female mice in vivo delayed pubertal onset. Conclusions SRD5A1/5α reductase-1 responds epigenetically to the environment and its downregulation appears to alter the reproductive phenotype. These findings help to explain diversity in reproductive characteristics and how they are shaped by early-life environment and reveal novel pathways that might be targeted to mitigate health issues caused by life-history trade-offs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01219-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bar-Sadeh
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Or E Amichai
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lilach Pnueli
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Khurshida Begum
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Gregory Leeman
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Richard D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Reinhard Stöger
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | | | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
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15
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Yuan J, Yu Y, Liu D, Sun Y. Associations between distinct dimensions of early life adversity and accelerated reproductive strategy among middle-aged women in China. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226:104.e1-104.e14. [PMID: 34384774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.07.033] [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: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Life history theory argues that unpredictable and harsh conditions such as early life adversity tends to produce a fast life history strategy, characterized by early sexual maturation and less parenting of offspring. It remains unclear whether all forms of early life adversity are associated with accelerated reproductive strategy, and most previous studies predominantly focused on single form of reproductive strategy indicators. OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between 2 distinct dimensions of early life adversity (ie, threat and deprivation) and reproductive strategies across global metrics. STUDY DESIGN We used data from 9674 middle-aged women of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The experiences of threat and deprivation were assessed using the Life History Survey Questionnaire in 2014. Reproductive strategy information was assessed via self-report from the follow-up of 2013, 2015 and 2018, including age at menarche, age at natural menopause, age at first birth, total number of children, and number of abortions. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between distinct dimensions of early life adversity and multiple reproductive strategy indicators, adjusting for age, Hukou location, family socioeconomic status in adulthood and body mass index. RESULTS Of the 9674 women (mean [standard deviation] age at baseline, 55.89 [10.23] years), 4084 (42.20%) reported exposure to threat-related early life adversity and 7332 (75.79%) reported exposure to deprivation-related early life adversity. Early life adversity characterized by threat was associated with accelerated reproductive strategy. Compared with women who have no experiences of threat-related early life adversity, ≥3 threat-related early life adversity was associated with 3.7-month earlier age at menarche (β=-0.31, 95% confidence interval, -0.53 to -0.08; P=.007), 8.6-month earlier age at natural menopause (β=-0.72, 95% confidence interval, -1.29 to -0.15; P=.013), >1-year earlier age at first birth (β=-1.14, 95% confidence interval, -1.58 to -0.71; P<.0001), and an increased total number of children (β=0.25, 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.41; P=.002). In contrast, experiences of deprivation were associated with delayed age at natural menopause (β=.50, 95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.94; P=.025) and increased number of abortions (β=.17, 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.34, P=.037), in models adjusting for co-occurring threat exposures. CONCLUSION This study suggests that early life adversity characterized by threat was associated with accelerated reproductive strategy, whereas deprivation was associated with slower reproduction strategy. Future research should clarify the biological pathways between different dimensions of early life adversity and reproductive strategies and further determine whether accelerated reproduction is an adaptive response to early life adversity in humans.
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16
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Rowlands A, Juergensen EC, Prescivalli AP, Salvante KG, Nepomnaschy PA. Social and Biological Transgenerational Underpinnings of Adolescent Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182212152. [PMID: 34831907 PMCID: PMC8620033 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent pregnancy (occurring < age 20) is considered a public health problem that creates and perpetuates inequities, affecting not only women, but societies as a whole globally. The efficacy of current approaches to reduce its prevalence is limited. Most existing interventions focus on outcomes without identifying or addressing upstream social and biological causes. Current rhetoric revolves around the need to change girls' individual behaviours during adolescence and puberty. Yet, emerging evidence suggests risk for adolescent pregnancy may be influenced by exposures taking place much earlier during development, starting as early as gametogenesis. Furthermore, pregnancy risks are determined by complex interactions between socio-structural and ecological factors including housing and food security, family structure, and gender-based power dynamics. To explore these interactions, we merge three complimentary theoretical frameworks: "Eco-Social", "Life History" and "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease". We use our new lens to discuss social and biological determinants of two key developmental milestones associated with age at first birth: age at girls' first menstrual bleed (menarche) and age at first sexual intercourse (coitarche). Our review of the literature suggests that promoting stable and safe environments starting at conception (including improving economic and social equity, in addition to gender-based power dynamics) is paramount to effectively curbing adolescent pregnancy rates. Adolescent pregnancy exacerbates and perpetuates social inequities within and across generations. As such, reducing it should be considered a key priority for public health and social change agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Rowlands
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Emma C Juergensen
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Ana Paula Prescivalli
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Katrina G Salvante
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Pablo A Nepomnaschy
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
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17
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Duffy KA, Bale TL, Epperson CN. Germ Cell Drivers: Transmission of Preconception Stress Across Generations. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:642762. [PMID: 34322003 PMCID: PMC8311293 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.642762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stress can accelerate maturation and hasten reproduction. Although potentially adaptive, the trade-off is higher risk for morbidity and mortality. In humans, the intergenerational effects of stress have been demonstrated, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. Strikingly, even if parental stress occurs prior to conception, as adults, their offspring show worse mental and physical health. Emerging evidence primarily from preclinical models suggests that epigenetic programming may encode preconception stress exposures in germ cells, potentially impacting the phenotype of the offspring. In this narrative review, we evaluate the strength of the evidence for this mechanism across animals and humans in both males and females. The strongest evidence comes from studies of male mice, in which paternal preconception stress is associated with a host of phenotypic changes in the offspring and stress-induced changes in the small non-coding RNA content in sperm have been implicated. Two recent studies in men provide evidence that some small non-coding RNAs in sperm are responsive to past and current stress, including some of the same ones identified in mice. Although preliminary evidence suggests that findings from mice may map onto men, the next steps will be (1) considering whether stress type, severity, duration, and developmental timing affect germ cell epigenetic markers, (2) determining whether germ cell epigenetic markers contribute to disease risk in the offspring of stress-exposed parents, and (3) overcoming methodological challenges in order to extend this research to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korrina A. Duffy
- Colorado Center for Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Tracy L. Bale
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - C. Neill Epperson
- Colorado Center for Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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18
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Influence of Childhood Adversity and Infection on Timing of Menarche in a Multiethnic Sample of Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18084080. [PMID: 33924338 PMCID: PMC8070127 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Childhood adversities (CAs) and infections may affect the timing of reproductive development. We examined the associations of indicators of CAs and exposure to tonsillitis and infectious mononucleosis (mono) with age at menarche. A multiethnic cohort of 400 women (ages 40–64 years) reported exposure to parental maltreatment and maladjustment during childhood and any diagnosis of tonsillitis and/or mono; infections primarily acquired in early life and adolescence, respectively. We used linear and relative risk regression models to examine the associations of indicators of CAs individually and cumulatively, and history of tonsillitis/mono with an average age at menarche and early onset of menarche (<12 years of age). In multivariable models, histories of mental illness in the household (RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01–2.06), and tonsillitis diagnosis (RR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.20–2.33) were associated with early menarche (<12 years), and with an earlier average age at menarche by 7.1 months (95% CI: −1.15, −0.02) and 8.8 months (95% CI: −1.26, −0.20), respectively. Other adversities indicators, cumulative adversities, and mono were not statistically associated with menarcheal timing. These findings provided some support for the growing evidence that early life experiences may influence the reproductive development in girls.
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19
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Russell AE, Joinson C, Roberts E, Heron J, Ford T, Gunnell D, Moran P, Relton C, Suderman M, Mars B. Childhood adversity, pubertal timing and self-harm: a longitudinal cohort study. Psychol Med 2021; 52:1-9. [PMID: 33682658 PMCID: PMC9811347 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721000611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The occurrence of early childhood adversity is strongly linked to later self-harm, but there is poor understanding of how this distal risk factor might influence later behaviours. One possible mechanism is through an earlier onset of puberty in children exposed to adversity, since early puberty is associated with an increased risk of adolescent self-harm. We investigated whether early pubertal timing mediates the association between childhood adversity and later self-harm. METHODS Participants were 6698 young people from a UK population-based birth cohort (ALSPAC). We measured exposure to nine types of adversity from 0 to 9 years old, and self-harm when participants were aged 16 and 21 years. Pubertal timing measures were age at peak height velocity (aPHV - males and females) and age at menarche (AAM). We used generalised structural equation modelling for analyses. RESULTS For every additional type of adversity; participants had an average 12-14% increased risk of self-harm by 16. Relative risk (RR) estimates were stronger for direct effects when outcomes were self-harm with suicidal intent. There was no evidence that earlier pubertal timing mediated the association between adversity and self-harm [indirect effect RR 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.00 for aPHV and RR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.01 for AAM]. CONCLUSIONS A cumulative measure of exposure to multiple types of adversity does not confer an increased risk of self-harm via early pubertal timing, however both childhood adversity and early puberty are risk factors for later self-harm. Research identifying mechanisms underlying the link between childhood adversity and later self-harm is needed to inform interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Emma Russell
- Children and Young People's Mental Health Research Collaboration, University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, Exeter, UK
| | - Carol Joinson
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Elystan Roberts
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Jon Heron
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Gunnell
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Paul Moran
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Becky Mars
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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20
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Giri R, Vincent AJ. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency/Early Menopause. Semin Reprod Med 2021; 38:237-246. [PMID: 33434933 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause, defined as loss of ovarian activity prior to 40 years or menopause between the ages of 40 and 45 years, respectively, is associated with significant adverse health impacts. Recent data indicate that the prevalence of POI and early menopause is greater than was previously thought, affecting more than 10% of women. Biopsychosocial risk factors including genetic, autoimmune, reproductive, lifestyle, early-life, social/environmental, and iatrogenic have been associated with POI/early menopause or earlier age at menopause. However, establishing a causal role and the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. Understanding and clarification of these risk factors will facilitate prevention and risk minimization strategies to optimize women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinky Giri
- Department of Endocrinology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amanda J Vincent
- Department of Endocrinology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Sun Y, Fang J, Wan Y, Su P, Tao F. Association of Early-Life Adversity With Measures of Accelerated Biological Aging Among Children in China. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2013588. [PMID: 32955573 PMCID: PMC7506517 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to early-life adversity (ELA) is associated with accelerated biological aging, offering 1 mechanism through which ELA may be associated with an increased risk for age-related disease. These investigations, however, have been predominantly cross-sectional and focused on adults and females. OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations of threat-related (ie, physical abuse) and deprivation-related (ie, emotional neglect) ELA exposure with cellular and reproductive strategy metrics of biological aging among boys and girls with specific genetic backgrounds around the period of pubertal onset. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this cohort study, 997 boys and girls in grade 1 to grade 3 from 3 large elementary schools were recruited from Bengbu, Anhui Province, China, and were followed up from March 21, 2016 (baseline; wave 1), for 4 consecutive years, through March 25, 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The outcome was accelerated biological aging in both cellular and reproductive strategy metrics: telomere attrition and age at thelarche (for girls) and testicular maturation (for boys). Multi-informant assessment of exposure to threat-related and deprivation-related ELA was done at baseline (wave 1) and 1-year follow-up (wave 2). The polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed based on 17 single-nucleotide variations for early pubertal timing. RESULTS Of the 997 participants (579 girls [58.1%]; mean [SD] age at baseline, 8.0 [0.8] years), 550 (55.2%) reported exposure to threat-related ELA and 443 (44.4%) reported exposure to deprivation-related ELA. Threat-related ELA was associated with onset of thelarche 2.6 months earlier and deprivation-related ELA with onset of thelarche 3.3 months earlier in exposed girls than in unexposed peers; these associations were observed only among girls with a low PRS. Among boys, a similar pattern was found. Threat-related ELA was associated with testicular volume of 4 mL or more 1.4 months earlier and deprivation-related ELA was associated with testicular volume of 4 mL or more 2.3 months earlier than in unexposed peers but only among those with a low PRS. Boys and girls with greater exposure to threats showed a significantly higher percentage of telomere length change during 1-year follow-up, but only among those with low PRS (boys: β = 1.50; 95% CI, 0.80-2.21; P < .001; girls: β = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.78-3.05; P < .001) and moderate PRS (boys: β = 1.09; 95% CI, 0.43-1.75; P = .001; and girls: β = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.77-1.77; P < .001). No associations of deprivation-related ELA with percentage of telomere length change were found. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study suggests that the accelerating association of ELA with biological aging might occur at an earlier age and in a genetic background-dependent and dimension-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Anhui Medical University School of Public Health, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiao Fang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Anhui Medical University School of Public Health, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuhui Wan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Anhui Medical University School of Public Health, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Puyu Su
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Anhui Medical University School of Public Health, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Anhui Medical University School of Public Health, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Roberts E, Fraser A, Gunnell D, Joinson C, Mars B. Timing of menarche and self-harm in adolescence and adulthood: a population-based cohort study. Psychol Med 2020; 50:2010-2018. [PMID: 31456538 PMCID: PMC7525770 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719002095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies of pubertal timing and self-harm are limited by subjective measures of pubertal timing or by the conflation of self-harm with suicide attempts and ideation. The current study investigates the association between an objective measure of pubertal timing - age at menarche - and self-harm with and without suicidal intent in adolescence and adulthood in females. METHOD Birth cohort study based on 4042 females from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Age at menarche was assessed prospectively between ages 8 and 17 years. Lifetime history of self-harm was self-reported at ages 16 and 21 years. Associations between age at menarche and self-harm, both with and without suicidal intent, were examined using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Later age at menarche was associated with a lower risk of lifetime self-harm at age 16 years (OR per-year increase in age at menarche 0.87; 95% CI 0.80-0.95). Compared with normative timing, early menarche (<11.5 years) was associated with an increased risk of self-harm (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.04-1.64) and later menarche (>13.8 years) with a reduced risk (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.93). The pattern of association was similar at age 21 years (OR per-year increase in age at menarche 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-1.00). There was no strong evidence for a difference in associations with suicidal v. non-suicidal self-harm. CONCLUSIONS Risk of self-harm is higher in females with early menarche onset. Future research is needed to establish whether this association is causal and to identify potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elystan Roberts
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Abigail Fraser
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Medical Research Council Integrated Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David Gunnell
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Carol Joinson
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Becky Mars
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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23
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Bar-Sadeh B, Rudnizky S, Pnueli L, Bentley GR, Stöger R, Kaplan A, Melamed P. Unravelling the role of epigenetics in reproductive adaptations to early-life environment. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2020; 16:519-533. [PMID: 32620937 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-020-0370-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive function adjusts in response to environmental conditions in order to optimize success. In humans, this plasticity includes age of pubertal onset, hormone levels and age at menopause. These reproductive characteristics vary across populations with distinct lifestyles and following specific childhood events, and point to a role for the early-life environment in shaping adult reproductive trajectories. Epigenetic mechanisms respond to external signals, exert long-term effects on gene expression and have been shown in animal and cellular studies to regulate normal reproductive function, strongly implicating their role in these adaptations. Moreover, human cohort data have revealed differential DNA methylation signatures in proxy tissues that are associated with reproductive phenotypic variation, although the cause-effect relationships are difficult to discern, calling for additional complementary approaches to establish functionality. In this Review, we summarize how adult reproductive function can be shaped by childhood events. We discuss why the influence of the childhood environment on adult reproductive function is an important consideration in understanding how reproduction is regulated and necessitates consideration by clinicians treating women with diverse life histories. The resolution of the molecular mechanisms responsible for human reproductive plasticity could also lead to new approaches for intervention by targeting these epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bar-Sadeh
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sergei Rudnizky
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lilach Pnueli
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Reinhard Stöger
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ariel Kaplan
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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24
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Lawn RB, Sallis HM, Wootton RE, Taylor AE, Demange P, Fraser A, Penton-Voak IS, Munafò MR. The effects of age at menarche and first sexual intercourse on reproductive and behavioural outcomes: A Mendelian randomization study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234488. [PMID: 32542040 PMCID: PMC7295202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is substantial variation in the timing of significant reproductive life events such as menarche and first sexual intercourse. Life history theory explains this variation as an adaptive response to an individual's environment and it is important to examine how traits within life history strategies affect each other. Here we applied Mendelian randomization (MR) methods to investigate whether there is a causal effect of variation in age at menarche and age at first sexual intercourse (markers or results of exposure to early life adversity) on outcomes related to reproduction, education and risky behaviour in UK Biobank (N = 114 883-181 255). Our results suggest that earlier age at menarche affects some traits that characterize life history strategies including earlier age at first and last birth, decreased educational attainment, and decreased age at leaving education (for example, we found evidence for a 0.26 year decrease in age at first birth per year decrease in age at menarche, 95% confidence interval: -0.34 to -0.17; p < 0.001). We find no clear evidence of effects of age at menarche on other outcomes, such as risk taking behaviour. Age at first sexual intercourse was also related to many life history outcomes, although there was evidence of horizontal pleiotropy which violates an assumption of MR and we therefore cannot infer causality from this analysis. Taken together, these results highlight how MR can be applied to test predictions of life history theory and to better understand determinants of health and social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca B. Lawn
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah M. Sallis
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robyn E. Wootton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Amy E. Taylor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Perline Demange
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Département d’Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
| | - Abigail Fraser
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ian S. Penton-Voak
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus R. Munafò
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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25
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Demakakos P, Linara-Demakakou E, Mishra GD. Adverse childhood experiences are associated with increased risk of miscarriage in a national population-based cohort study in England. Hum Reprod 2020; 35:1451-1460. [PMID: 32510136 PMCID: PMC7316498 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is there an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and the risk of miscarriage in the general population? SUMMARY ANSWER Specific ACE as well as the summary ACE score were associated with an increased risk of single and recurrent miscarriages. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is scarce evidence on the association between ACE and miscarriage risk. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a retrospective national cohort study. The sample consisted of 2795 women aged 55-89 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Our study was population-based and included women who participated in the ELSA Life History Interview in 2007. We estimated multinomial logistic regression models of the associations of the summary ACE score and eight individual ACE variables (pertaining to physical and sexual abuse, family dysfunction and experiences of living in residential care or with foster parents) with self-reported miscarriage (0, 1, ≥2 miscarriages). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Five hundred and fifty-three women (19.8% of our sample) had experienced at least one miscarriage in their lifetime. Compared with women with no ACE, women with ≥3 ACE were two times more likely to experience a single miscarriage in their lifetime (relative risk ratio 2.00, 95% CI 1.25-3.22) and more than three times more likely to experience recurrent miscarriages (≥2 miscarriages) (relative risk ratio 3.10, 95% CI 1.63, 5.89) after adjustment for birth cohort, age at menarche and childhood socioeconomic position. Childhood experiences of physical and sexual abuse were individually associated with increased risk of miscarriage. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Given the magnitude of the observed associations, their biological plausibility, temporal order and consistency with evidence suggesting a positive association between ACE and adverse reproductive outcomes, it is unlikely that our findings are spurious. Nevertheless, the observed associations should not be interpreted as causal as our study was observational and potentially susceptible to bias arising from unaccounted confounders. Non-response and ensuing selection bias may have also biased our findings. Retrospectively measured ACE are known to be susceptible to underreporting. Our study may have misclassified cases of ACE and possibly underestimated the magnitude of the association between ACE and the risk of miscarriage. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study highlights experiences of psychosocial adversity in childhood as a potential risk factor for single and recurrent miscarriages. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of childhood trauma in miscarriage and add an important life course dimension to the study of miscarriage. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) ELSA is currently funded by the National Institute on Aging in USA (R01AG017644) and a consortium of UK government departments coordinated by the National Institute for Health Research. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the article. The authors have no actual or potential competing financial interests to disclose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayotes Demakakos
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Gita D Mishra
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
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26
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Magnus MC, Guyatt AL, Lawn RB, Wyss AB, Trajanoska K, Küpers LK, Rivadeneira F, Tobin MD, London SJ, Lawlor DA, Millard LAC, Fraser A. Identifying potential causal effects of age at menarche: a Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study. BMC Med 2020; 18:71. [PMID: 32200763 PMCID: PMC7087394 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01515-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age at menarche has been associated with various health outcomes. We aimed to identify potential causal effects of age at menarche on health-related traits in a hypothesis-free manner. METHODS We conducted a Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study (MR-pheWAS) of age at menarche with 17,893 health-related traits in UK Biobank (n = 181,318) using PHESANT. The exposure of interest was the genetic risk score for age at menarche. We conducted a second MR-pheWAS after excluding SNPs associated with BMI from the genetic risk score, to examine whether results might be due to the genetic overlap between age at menarche and BMI. We followed up a subset of health-related traits to investigate MR assumptions and seek replication in independent study populations. RESULTS Of the 17,893 tests performed in our MR-pheWAS, we identified 619 associations with the genetic risk score for age at menarche at a 5% false discovery rate threshold, of which 295 were below a Bonferroni-corrected P value threshold. These included potential effects of younger age at menarche on lower lung function, higher heel bone-mineral density, greater burden of psychosocial/mental health problems, younger age at first birth, higher risk of childhood sexual abuse, poorer cardiometabolic health, and lower physical activity. After exclusion of variants associated with BMI, the genetic risk score for age at menarche was related to 37 traits at a 5% false discovery rate, of which 29 were below a Bonferroni-corrected P value threshold. We attempted to replicate findings for bone-mineral density, lung function, neuroticism, and childhood sexual abuse using 5 independent cohorts/consortia. While estimates for lung function, higher bone-mineral density, neuroticism, and childhood sexual abuse in replication cohorts were consistent with UK Biobank estimates, confidence intervals were wide and often included the null. CONCLUSIONS The genetic risk score for age at menarche was related to a broad range of health-related traits. Follow-up analyses indicated imprecise evidence of an effect of younger age at menarche on greater bone-mineral density, lower lung function, higher neuroticism score, and greater risk of childhood sexual abuse in the smaller replication samples available; hence, these findings need further exploration when larger independent samples become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Magnus
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK.
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anna L Guyatt
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Rebecca B Lawn
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Annah B Wyss
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Katerina Trajanoska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leanne K Küpers
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fernando Rivadeneira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin D Tobin
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Leicester Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Stephanie J London
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Debbie A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Louise A C Millard
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- Intelligent Systems Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Abigail Fraser
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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27
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Holdsworth EA, Appleton AA. Adverse childhood experiences and reproductive strategies in a contemporary U.S. population. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 171:37-49. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Holdsworth
- Department of Anthropology, College of Arts & SciencesUniversity at Albany, SUNY Albany New York
| | - Allison A. Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public HealthUniversity at Albany, SUNY Albany New York
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28
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Zhang L, Zhang D, Sun Y. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Pubertal Timing Among Girls: A Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16162887. [PMID: 31412531 PMCID: PMC6720214 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16162887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pubertal timing has been a topic of enduring controversy. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was undertaken to quantify the magnitude of total and specific forms of ACEs effects on early pubertal timing among girls. Our search identified 3280 records, of which 43 studies with 46 independent data sets met inclusion criteria. We estimated pooled effect sizes (Cohen’s ds) for the association between ACEs with early pubertal timing. Total ACEs was not associated with early pubertal timing. When we examined the specific types of ACEs, associations were small to medium for father absence (d = −0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.63, −0.16) and small for sexual abuse (d = −0.13, CI: −0.17, −0.10) and family dysfunction (d = −0.08, CI: −0.11, −0.02). We identified considerable heterogeneity between estimates for almost all of the outcomes. ACEs exposure may affect female reproductive reproduction, particularly father absence, sexual abuse, and family dysfunction. We propose that future research in this area test a theoretical model linking adversity with earlier reproductive strategy, which includes early pubertal timing as a core component linking early adversity and stress physiology with poor health outcomes later in life in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81th Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81th Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81th Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China.
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29
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Mishra GD, Chung HF, Cano A, Chedraui P, Goulis DG, Lopes P, Mueck A, Rees M, Senturk LM, Simoncini T, Stevenson JC, Stute P, Tuomikoski P, Lambrinoudaki I. EMAS position statement: Predictors of premature and early natural menopause. Maturitas 2019; 123:82-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Sear R, Sheppard P, Coall DA. Cross-cultural evidence does not support universal acceleration of puberty in father-absent households. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180124. [PMID: 30966893 PMCID: PMC6460089 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Father absence in early life has been shown to be associated with accelerated reproductive development in girls. Evolutionary social scientists have proposed several adaptive hypotheses for this finding. Though there is variation in the detail of these hypotheses, they all assume that family environment in early life influences the development of life-history strategy, and, broadly, that early reproductive development is an adaptive response to father absence. Empirical evidence to support these hypotheses, however, has been derived from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic) populations. Data from a much broader range of human societies are necessary in order to properly test adaptive hypotheses. Here, we review the empirical literature on father absence and puberty in both sexes, focusing on recent studies that have tested this association beyond the WEIRD world. We find that relationships between father absence and age at puberty are more varied in contexts beyond WEIRD societies, and when relationships beyond the father-daughter dyad are considered. This has implications for our understanding of how early-life environment is linked to life-history strategies, and for our understanding of pathways to adult health outcomes, given that early reproductive development may be linked to negative health outcomes in later life This article is part of the theme issue 'Developing differences: early-life effects and evolutionary medicine'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Sear
- Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Paula Sheppard
- Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford UK
| | - David A. Coall
- Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
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31
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Belsky J. Early-Life Adversity Accelerates Child and Adolescent Development. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0963721419837670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Most developmental work regards adverse developmental experiences as forces that undermine well-being. Here, I present an alternative—or complementary—view, summarizing recent evidence on puberty, endocrinology, cellular aging, and brain connectivity that collectively reveals developmental acceleration in response to contextual adversity. Findings are cast in evolutionary-developmental terms, highlighting the trade-off between accelerated aging and (a) increased morbidity and (b) premature mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Belsky
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis
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32
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Dorn LD, Hostinar CE, Susman EJ, Pervanidou P. Conceptualizing Puberty as a Window of Opportunity for Impacting Health and Well-Being Across the Life Span. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2019; 29:155-176. [PMID: 30869846 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We promote the perspective that puberty, a separate biological process embedded in adolescence, is a "window of opportunity" for understanding and impacting health and development. First, we include a brief overview of pubertal change. Second, we propose a critical role for puberty in shaping life span health due to its connections with early life precursors, health issues and risks emerging during puberty, and health in young adulthood and beyond. Next, we discuss the importance of puberty measures in developmental research and suggest ways to make the science of puberty an important standalone research entity, as well as an essential component of studies conducted during adolescence. Finally, we discuss measurement issues, novel theoretical models of puberty, and the necessity of adopting an interdisciplinary perspective in research on puberty and in adolescence more broadly.
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Childhood experiences of parenting and age at menarche, age at menopause and duration of reproductive lifespan: Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Maturitas 2019; 122:66-72. [PMID: 30797533 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The parent-child relationship is critical for human development, yet little is known about its association with offsprings' reproductive health outside the context of abuse and neglect. We investigated whether childhood experiences of poor-quality parenting (characterized as decreased parental care and increased parental overprotection) are associated with women's reproductive timing and lifespan. STUDY DESIGN Observational study of 2383 women aged 55-89 years in 2007 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported ages at menarche and menopause and duration of reproductive lifespan. RESULTS Increasing maternal and paternal overprotection were associated with later menarche (≥16 years) after adjustment for age and childhood socioeconomic position (relative risk ratio (RRR) 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21 and 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.21, respectively, per unit increase in the predictor). Increasing parental overprotection and decreasing paternal care were associated with earlier menarche (≤10 years). However, these associations were marginally non-significant. Maternal and paternal overprotection were also inversely associated with age at natural menopause after adjustment for age, childhood socioeconomic position and age at menarche (p value for linear trend = 0.041 and 0.004, respectively). Further, increasing paternal overprotection was associated with a shorter reproductive lifespan (≤33 years) (RRR 1.09 (1.01-1.18), per unit increase in the predictor) after adjustment for age and childhood socioeconomic position. Adjustment for additional childhood and adult factors did not explain these associations. CONCLUSIONS Women who experienced poor-quality parenting in childhood, especially increased levels of parental overprotection, might be at increased risk of an unfavourable reproductive health profile that is characterized by late or early menarche, premature menopause and a shorter reproductive lifespan.
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Abstract
The assumption that early stress leads to dysregulation and impairment is widespread in developmental science and informs prevailing models (e.g., toxic stress). An alternative evolutionary–developmental approach, which complements the standard emphasis on dysregulation, proposes that early stress may prompt the development of costly but adaptive strategies that promote survival and reproduction under adverse conditions. In this review, we survey this growing theoretical and empirical literature, highlighting recent developments and outstanding questions. We review concepts of adaptive plasticity and conditional adaptation, introduce the life history framework and the adaptive calibration model, and consider how physiological stress response systems and related neuroendocrine processes may function as plasticity mechanisms. We then address the evolution of individual differences in susceptibility to the environment, which engenders systematic person–environment interactions in the effects of stress on development. Finally, we discuss stress-mediated regulation of pubertal development as a case study of how an evolutionary–developmental approach can foster theoretical integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce J. Ellis
- Department of Psychology and Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Marco Del Giudice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
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Houtepen LC, Hardy R, Maddock J, Kuh D, Anderson EL, Relton CL, Suderman MJ, Howe LD. Childhood adversity and DNA methylation in two population-based cohorts. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:266. [PMID: 30510187 PMCID: PMC6277431 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0307-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood adversity affects later health, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Although there is some evidence from animal models and case-control studies of a role for DNA methylation, evidence from human population-based studies is limited. In two cohorts (mothers from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC, n = 780 and women from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, NSHD, n = 552), we assessed the association of seven adverse childhood experiences (ACEs: parental physical illness, parental mental illness, parental death, parental separation, suboptimal maternal bonding, childhood illness and child maltreatment) as well as their combination (ACE score) with genome-wide DNA methylation levels measured using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip in peripheral blood at mean age 47 years (ALSPAC) and in buccal cells at age 53 years (NSHD). CpG sites with a genome-wide false discovery rate (FDR) below 0.05 and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with one-step Šidák correction p-values below 0.05 in each cohort were examined in the other cohort. No individual CpG sites replicated across cohorts. However, nine DMRs replicated across cohorts respectively associated with the ACE score (one region), parental mental illness (two regions), parental physical illness (three regions) and parental death (three regions). These observations indicate that some adverse childhood experiences, notably those related to parental health, may leave imprints on peripheral DNA methylation that persist to mid-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Houtepen
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - R Hardy
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK
| | - J Maddock
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK
| | - D Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK
| | - E L Anderson
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - C L Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - M J Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - L D Howe
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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