Early life adversity across different cell- types in the brain

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 May:148:105113. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105113. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Abstract

Early life adversity (ELA)- which includes physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse is one of the most common predictors to diverse psychopathologies later in adulthood. As ELA has a lasting impact on the brain at a developmental stage, recent findings from the field highlighted the specific contributions of different cell types to ELA and their association with long lasting consequences. In this review we will gather recent findings describing morphological, transcriptional and epigenetic alterations within neurons, glia and perineuronal nets and their associated cellular subpopulation. The findings reviewed and summarized here highlight important mechanisms underlying ELA and point to therapeutic approaches for ELA and related psychopathologies later in life.

Keywords: Animal models; Astrocytes; Cell-type specific; Early life adversity; Humans; Microglia; Neurons; Oligodendrocytes; Perineuronal nets.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences*
  • Brain
  • Emotions
  • Humans
  • Neuroglia
  • Neurons