25/07/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EY7cmcvLw/
From the archive:
In the aftermath of 9/11, a trauma research team monitored 187 pregnant women who had been in the area during the attacks and were at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through their pregnancies and beyond. When the babies were born, they were smaller than usual—the first sign that the trauma of the World Trade Center attack had reached the womb. Further evaluations suggested that trauma could leave a trace in offspring even before they are born.
Research has since confirmed that adverse experiences may influence the next generation through multiple pathways. The most apparent route runs through parental behavior, but influences during gestation and even changes in eggs and s***m may also play a role. And all these channels seem to involve epigenetics: alterations in the way that genes function.
The implications of these findings may seem dire, suggesting that parental trauma predisposes offspring to be vulnerable to mental health conditions. But there is some evidence that the epigenetic response may serve as an adaptation that might help the children of traumatized parents cope with similar adversities. Or could both outcomes be possible? http://spklr.io/6001EP2YW
