The Lasting Impact of Hardship on the Gut Microbiome

Published on July 23, 2023

Just like the saying ‘what goes around, comes around,’ we now know that the struggles a mother faces during her own childhood or pregnancy can come full circle and impact her child’s gut microbiome. A recent study discovered that the composition of a 2-year-old child’s gut microbiome is influenced by the hardships their mother endured in the past. It’s kind of like how a story can be passed down from one generation to another, but instead of words, it’s the bacteria in our intestines that carry the tale! While previous research had revealed that stress during pregnancy can affect microbiomes in rodents throughout their lives, this study demonstrates that these effects can last in humans as well. The alterations to the microorganism community in a child’s gut could be one of the ways that early life difficulties influence their social and emotional development. Fascinating stuff, isn’t it? If you want to dive deeper into this intriguing research, check out the link!

A new study has shown that hardship experienced by mothers during their own childhood or during pregnancy is reflected in the composition of their 2-year-old children’s gut microbiome. It was previously understood that in rodents, prenatal stress affects microbiomes into adulthood, but how long after birth the effects lasted in humans was unknown. The changes to this community of microorganisms are likely among the ways that hardship affects a child’s socioemotional development.

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