According to a new study, a growing fetus in the womb that's exposed to high levels of stress hormones are likely to have mood disorders later in life.
Professor Megan Holmes, a neuroendocrinologist from the University of Edinburgh/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science in Scotland, has found evidence through a recently conducted study that a growing fetus in the womb that is exposed to high levels of stress hormones is likely to have mood disorders later in life.
The mechanism that is responsible for this still remains unclear though enzyme 11ß-HSD2 was found to play a key role in the process of fetal programming.
It was found that experiences such as bereavement, cases of stress or abuse increase the production of glucocorticoids in pregnant mothers. Glucocorticoids are hormones that are known as stress hormones because of their role in the stress response.
"The stress hormone cortisol may be a key factor in programming the fetus, baby or child to be at risk of disease in later life. Cortisol causes reduced growth and modifies the timing of tissue development as well as having long lasting effects on gene expression," Holmes said.
Holmes hopes the findings will make healthcare workers more aware of the fact that children exposed to an unpleasant environment, be it abuse, bereavement or malnutrition, are at an increased risk of mood disorders in later life and the children should be carefully monitored and supported to prevent this from happening.
