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Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Chronic Stress, and Hippocampal Subfield Development in Children

Emily C Merz1, Xiaofu He2, Brent Myers3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.

Neuroscience Insights
|July 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Hair cortisol levels link socioeconomic disadvantage to smaller hippocampal volumes in children. Future research should explore stress, cognition, and brain development to reduce academic and mental health disparities.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Socioeconomic disadvantage is linked to poorer child development outcomes.
  • Hair cortisol concentrations offer a measure of chronic stress.
  • Hippocampal volume is associated with cognitive function and mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss recent findings on hair cortisol, socioeconomic status, and hippocampal volume in children.
  • To propose future research directions for understanding these associations.
  • To inform strategies for reducing socioeconomic disparities in child development.

Main Methods:

  • Commentary on existing research findings.
  • Identification of key areas for future investigation.

Main Results:

  • Hair cortisol concentrations significantly mediate the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and reduced hippocampal CA3 and dentate gyrus volumes.
  • This mediation highlights a potential biological pathway linking adversity to brain structure.

Conclusions:

  • Future research should investigate the mechanistic role of glutamate and the impact of chronic stress and cognitive stimulation.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for developing interventions to mitigate socioeconomic disparities in academic achievement and mental health.

Keywords:
Dentate gyruschildhood adversitycortisolhippocampusmemory

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