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Toxic stress, epigenetics and child development.

Maria Clara de Magalhães-Barbosa1, Arnaldo Prata-Barbosa1, Antonio José Ledo Alves da Cunha2

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Toxic stress, resulting from severe early life adversity, can alter gene expression through epigenetic changes, impacting child development and lifelong health. Pediatricians should address these mechanisms to promote children's well-being.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Epigenetics
  • Toxic Stress Research

Background:

  • Toxic stress arises from intense, frequent, or prolonged childhood adversity without adequate adult support.
  • This stress can negatively affect children's learning, behavior, and long-term health.
  • Epigenetics reveals how environmental factors influence gene expression, explaining the lasting impact of early experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define toxic stress.
  • To explain the fundamentals of epigenetics.
  • To explore the connection between toxic stress, epigenetics, and child development.

Main Methods:

  • A narrative literature review was conducted.
  • Searches were performed in SciELO, Lilacs, and Medline databases.
  • Keywords included Adverse Childhood Experience, Early Life Stress, Epigenomic, Epigenetic, Child Development, and Infant Development.

Main Results:

  • Toxic stress, characterized by continuous stress responses to adversity, can lead to detrimental lifelong effects on learning, behavior, and health.
  • Epigenetics demonstrates that environmental influences, including early life experiences, can modify gene expression.
  • These epigenetic modifications can explain how early adversity impacts individuals throughout their lives.

Conclusions:

  • Toxic stress induces physiological changes, partly explained by epigenetic modifications that can be temporary or permanent.
  • Pediatricians need to understand these epigenetic mechanisms and their consequences.
  • Preventing toxic stress is crucial for promoting children's health, well-being, and overall development.