Trauma's genetic legacy: How stress genes pass through generations
Trauma affects genes in descendants, new review finds.
Why it matters
- Trauma can impact descendants through epigenetic changes.
- Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new treatments.
By the numbers
- Review includes studies on Holocaust, Dutch Hunger Winter, and Rwandan genocide survivors.
- Key genes affected: NR3C1 and FKBP5.
The big picture
- Epigenetic changes link trauma to long-term stress regulation and health.
- Interdisciplinary approaches needed for effective interventions.
What they're saying
- Critics note the Dutch Hunger Winter study highlights malnutrition, not trauma.
- Skepticism about clear evidence of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans.
Caveats
- Methodological limitations and ethical complexities.
- Causality not established.
What’s next
- More research needed to translate findings into interventions.