We may now know how childhood hardship leaves its mark on the brain

Research in mice suggests that a newly identified brain pathway may be the reason childhood adversity increases the risk of mental health issues as an adult

By Grace Wade

A newly identified brain pathway in mice could explain why experiencing hardship early in life leads to poorer mental health as an adult. If a similar pathway is found in human brains, it could be the target of future drug therapies.

During childhood, “poverty, immigration, neglect and abuse are all associated with an increased risk for mental health issues later in life, specifically depression, drug use and even suicide”, says Tallie Z. Baram at …