Stress during pregnancy can lead to early maturation of first-born daughters

Key takeawaysA UCLA-led research team found a correlation between certain aspects of early puberty in first-born daughters and high levels of prenatal stress in their mothers.The researchers did not find the same result in boys or in daughters who were not first-born.This early maturation may enable a first-born daughter to help her mother rear her other children successfully, according to UCLA anthropologist Molly Fox.A UCLA-led team of researchers has found a correlation between early signs of adrenal puberty in first-born daughters and their mothers ’ having experienced high levels of prenatal stress. They did not find the same result in boys or daughters who were not first-born.The 15-year longitudinal study ’sfindings were published in the February issue of Psychoneuroendocrinology.The study was the first to identify earlier patterns of adrenal puberty as a result of prenatal stress. Adrenal puberty is marked by changes like the growth of body hair, pimples and aspects of cognitive maturation, but does not include breast development or the onset of menstruation for girls or testicular enlargement for boys.The finding adds to research in the field of fetal programming, studies that explore the impact that stress and other factors affecting pregnant mothers can have on fetuses and children long after birth.“This is a first-of-its-kind finding and is fascinating to look at through an evolutionary lens,” said UCLA anthropologist Molly Fox, who led the study with coll...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news