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Fetal programming of autonomic and HPA function: do people who were small babies have enhanced stress responses?

David I W Phillips1, Alexander Jones

  • 1Developmental Origins of Health & Disease Division (University of Southampton), MRC (Mailpoint 95), Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. diwp@mrc.soton.ac.uk

The Journal of Physiology
|February 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Early life adversity impacts stress response systems, the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, in humans. These neuroendocrine changes may increase cardiovascular disease risk, with sex-specific differences observed.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Adverse early environments affect autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis development in animal models.
  • These neuroendocrine systems are critical for stress response.
  • Emerging research indicates similar effects in humans, linking early adversity to altered stress reactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of adverse early environments on human stress response systems.
  • To explore potential sex differences in these neuroendocrine adaptations.
  • To examine the link between these physiological changes and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies on early environment, autonomic nervous system, and HPA axis function.
  • Analysis of human data showing associations between reduced birth/infant weight and stress responses.
  • Epidemiological data linking neuroendocrine changes to cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Adverse early environments, indicated by low birth/infant weight, are associated with heightened autonomic and HPA axis responses to psychological stress in humans.
  • Significant sex differences exist in the underlying mechanisms.
  • Physiological alterations in these systems correlate with cardiovascular risk factors like elevated glucose, lipids, and blood pressure.

Conclusions:

  • Early life adversity can lead to lasting alterations in human stress response systems.
  • These neuroendocrine changes, potentially influenced by sex, may contribute to cardiovascular disease.
  • Enhanced stress susceptibility in conjunction with psychosocial stressors represents a significant component of human disease risk.

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