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childhood trauma

This shows the outline of a child and a brain.

·June 12, 2025·6 min read

Childhood Trauma Rewires the Brain Through Inflammation

Childhood trauma doesn't just leave psychological scars—it biologically reshapes the brain through chronic neuroinflammation and structural changes, increasing vulnerability to psychiatric disorders later in life. New research shows that early adversity can reprogram immune responses, altering lifelong mental health outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 26, 2025·4 min read

AI Enhances Detection of Child Abuse Cases

A new study found that artificial intelligence can better identify instances of physical child abuse in emergency rooms compared to traditional diagnostic coding methods. Researchers developed a machine-learning model that more accurately estimated abuse prevalence based on high-risk injuries and physical abuse indicators.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 25, 2025·5 min read

Infant Social Skills Thrive Despite Hardship

A large international study finds that babies living in insecure conditions, including as refugees, display key social skills on par with children raised in more stable environments. Using eye-tracking technology, researchers found that over 800 children from Sweden, Uganda, Bhutan, and Zimbabwe equally followed social cues like shared attention, regardless of poverty, trauma, or parental mental health.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 12, 2025·5 min read

How Childhood Abuse Impacts Parental Empathy

A new study sheds light on how childhood maltreatment can lead to impaired empathy and increased risk of child abuse in adulthood. Researchers found that mothers who experienced abuse as children often struggle with emotional empathy and depressive symptoms, both of which negatively influence parenting.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 7, 2025·4 min read

Mom’s Childhood Trauma May Influence Kids with ADHD and ASD

A new study finds that mothers’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—including abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction—may affect children diagnosed with ADHD or autism. Mothers who faced early trauma were more likely to have children who reported similar experiences and to exhibit traits of neurodevelopmental conditions themselves.

This shows a child sitting alone on a bench while others play around him.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 9, 2025·7 min read

Physical Neglect Causes Lifelong Social Challenges in Children

A new study highlights how childhood physical neglect disrupts social development more than physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Neglected children were less social, less popular, and less connected to cohesive friend groups, facing stigmatization and withdrawal.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 4, 2024·7 min read

Mother’s Role in Buffering Child PTSD

A mother’s ability to regulate her response to trauma can significantly lessen PTSD symptoms in her children, particularly in high-stress regions. The research observed 131 mothers and young children in southern Israel, where security threats are prevalent, linking maternal self-regulation to reduced PTSD in children.

This shows a child thinking about a traumatic event.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 11, 2024·6 min read

Child Trauma Recovery Tied to Thoughts, Not Event Severity

A new study reveals that how children mentally process traumatic events is the most significant factor in predicting their mental health outcomes, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Cognitive factors—like how children remember the event and view themselves afterward—play a more critical role than the event’s objective severity. Researchers found that children with more negative self-perceptions or distorted memories were at higher risk for long-term psychological impacts.

This shows a young girl and an older lady.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 30, 2024·6 min read

Link Between Childhood Trauma and Elder Abuse Risk Revealed

New research reveals that people who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a higher likelihood of committing abuse against older adults. The study surveyed over 13,000 individuals and found that 8.5% of those with ACEs admitted to physical or verbal abuse of seniors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 8, 2024·5 min read

40 Percent of Mental Illnesses Linked to Childhood Maltreatment

Up to 40% of prevalent mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, stem from childhood maltreatment. The study estimates that addressing childhood maltreatment could prevent over 1.8 million cases of these disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 15, 2024·5 min read

Childhood Trauma Impacts Muscle Function in Later Life

Adverse childhood experiences can detrimentally affect muscle function in older adults by impairing mitochondrial activity necessary for energy production. The study analyzed muscle biopsies from over 870 participants aged 70 and older, linking reported childhood adversities with reduced production of ATP, the energy currency of cells.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·April 2, 2024·5 min read

Stress and Trauma Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

Researchers linked midlife stress and childhood trauma to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and neuroinflammation. Analyzing 1,290 volunteers, researchers found that stressful life events, especially during midlife, correlate with higher levels of β-amyloid protein, crucial in Alzheimer's development, and that childhood stress is associated with later life neuroinflammation. Interestingly, the study also uncovered sex-specific effects, with stress leading to amyloid protein accumulation in men and brain atrophy in women.