Cumulative stress, PTSD, and emotion dysregulation during pregnancy and epigenetic age acceleration in Hispanic mothers and their newborn infants

Abstract

Pregnancy can exacerbate or prompt the onset of stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is associated with heightened stress responsivity and emotional dysregulation, as well as increased risk of chronic disorders and mortality. Further, maternal PTSD is associated with gestational epigenetic age acceleration in newborns, implicating the prenatal period as a developmental time period for the transmission of effects across generations. Here, we evaluated the associations between PTSD symptoms, maternal epigenetic age acceleration, and infant gestational epigenetic age acceleration in 89 maternal-neonatal dyads. Trauma-related experiences and PTSD symptoms in mothers were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy. The MethylationEPIC array was used to generate DNA methylation data from maternal and neonatal saliva samples collected within 24 h of infant birth. Maternal epigenetic age acceleration was calculated using Horvath’s multi-tissue clock, PhenoAge and GrimAge. Gestational epigenetic age was estimated using the Haftorn clock. Maternal cumulative past-year stress (GrimAge: p = 3.23e-04, PhenoAge: p = 9.92e-03), PTSD symptoms (GrimAge: p = 0.019), and difficulties in emotion regulation (GrimAge: p = 0.028) were associated with accelerated epigenetic age in mothers. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with lower gestational epigenetic age acceleration in neonates ( p = 0.032). Overall, our results suggest that maternal cumulative past-year stress exposure and trauma-related symptoms may increase the risk for age-related problems in mothers and developmental problems in their newborns.

Maternal childhood adversity and infant epigenetic aging: Moderation by restless sleep during pregnancy

“…Other investigations have detected associations between maternal lifetime stress and newborn epigenetic aging. Notably, Katrinli et al (2023) found that, among Hispanic mothers, lifetime PTSD symptoms (including insomnia symptoms) were associated with EPIC GA deceleration in infants. Another study by Koen et al (2021) (Haftorn et al, 2021).…”

“…Notably, Katrinli et al. (2023) found that, among Hispanic mothers, lifetime PTSD symptoms (including insomnia symptoms) were associated with EPIC GA deceleration in infants. Another study by Koen et al.…”

Biological Aging Acceleration Due to Environmental Exposures: An Exciting New Direction in Toxicogenomics Research

“…Pregnancy can elicit stress-related disorders such as PTSD which could be associated with an increased risk of eG-age acceleration in newborns [165] and age acceleration in their mothers. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between maternal stress exposure and PTSD symptoms with the mother's own B-age and eG-age acceleration in the newborns (n = 89 maternal-neonatal dyads) [165].…”

Mental health of pregnant women: modern realities

“…Seyma Katrinli та співавт. повідомлено, що пренатальний період є періодом розвитку для передавання ефектів між поколіннями [25]. Вони оцінювали зв'язок між симптомами ПТСР, прискоренням епігенетичного віку матері та прискоренням гестаційного епігенетичного віку немовляти та новонародженого.…”

“…Доведено, що кумулятивний вплив материнського стресу під час вагітності і симптоми, пов'язані зі стресовою травмою, можуть підвищувати ризик вікових проблем у матерів і проблем із розвитком їхніх новонароджених. Крім того, материнський ПТСР пов'язаний із прискоренням гестаційного епігенетичного віку в новонароджених, вказуючи на те, що пренатальний період є періодом розвитку для передавання ефектів між поколіннями [25].…”