How Early Life Stress Affects Health Over Time
Early Life Stress, DNA Methylation, and Health Disparities across Ages
This project explores how stressful experiences in childhood might contribute to health differences that appear later in life, particularly among Black individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11074529 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many Black individuals experience higher rates of chronic diseases and earlier mortality, which is often connected to stressful experiences like poverty and discrimination. This project aims to understand the biological ways that early life stress might lead to these health differences across a person's lifetime. Researchers are following up with participants from a long-term study, Healthy Passages, who were previously observed from ages 11 to 19. They will examine how early life stress might change DNA (called DNA methylation) and contribute to early signs of chronic diseases in these young adults and their own young children. The goal is to discover if protective factors, like support from family or community, can help reduce these effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Individuals who previously participated in the Healthy Passages longitudinal study and their young children are the focus of this follow-up.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or intervention for existing health conditions would not directly benefit from this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to prevent or reduce health differences that arise from early life stress, leading to better health for many.
How similar studies have performed: While the link between early life stress and health is recognized, this project uniquely explores the biological mechanisms and the role of protective factors across generations.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mrug, Sylvie — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Mrug, Sylvie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.