According to new findings from human and animal research, it shows that the effect of trauma in childhood can lead to severe health related issues in later life.
Bruce McEwen, from the Rockefeller University, an expert on stress, according to a statement in the Society for Neuroscience: "While we are becoming fully aware, in general, of the devastating impact that early life adversity has on the developing brain, today's findings reveal specific changes in targeted brain regions and the long-lasting nature of these alterations.
"In doing so, this research points not only to new directions for the improved detection and treatment of resulting cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, and chronic diseases, but also emphasizes the importance of preventing early life abuse and neglect in the first place," McEwen added.
There were some findings related to the study which were presented at the Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, which were published in the Society for Neuroscience.
These detailed findings showed that physical abuse in early infancy results in exposure to heart related diseases and mental health issues in adults.
These findings also show that childhood poverty is also linked to lack in memory and attention in adults. However, to improve the cognitive functions, childhood training may help.
Chronic stress among infants results in aggressive behaviors. This result in abnormal development of amygdale, which is an almond-shaped mass in the front part of the cerebrum, involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear.
Previous findings associated with this study published in the Society for Neuroscience shows that parent's education and income is also linked to the child's brain size, which includes structures which are vital for child's memory and emotions.
