New research published in Biological Psychiatry links childhood adversity to mitochondrial bioenergetic changes later in life, highlighting the impact of early-life stress on cellular health. The study, released on Jun. 18, found that different types of childhood stressors leave unique biological signatures.
Early-life adversity includes experiences such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, food insecurity, and physical neglect. Recent evidence estimates that 64% of adults in the United States experience at least one adverse event during childhood or adolescence, with nearly one in five reporting four or more events.
Despite recognition of psychosocial stress effects on mitochondria, little research has examined early-life adversity and mitochondrial function in living cells. This study is the first to investigate these relationships using a diverse sample of adult men and women. Researchers measured various bioenergetic parameters from live mitochondria using a "stress test" among 143 trauma-exposed adults. They found that cumulative early-life adversity was associated with patterns characterized by increased respiratory (energy-producing) capacity.
The investigators differentiated between threat-based traumas—such as abuse or violence—and deprivation-based traumas—such as neglect or food insecurity—and found these were associated with different markers of mitochondrial function. Threat was linked to lower cellular energy demand and a shift away from glycolysis, while deprivation corresponded to increased glycolytic activity and less efficient energy production.
First author Shiloh Cleveland said, "We were particularly surprised by the different patterns of mitochondrial function observed across early experiences of threat versus deprivation." Cleveland added that understanding how childhood adversity relates to mitochondrial function could inform targeted interventions earlier in life. Dr. Sumner said, "Our study's findings suggest that taking a more nuanced approach to thinking about experiences of early adversity may help to shed light on distinct mechanisms of the biological embedding of stress." John Krystal concluded, "There is growing interest in how cellular dysfunction impacts mental health. This study shows that early childhood trauma leaves a lasting imprint on adult mitochondrial function, pointing to an important pathway through which early-life stress contributes to the biology of psychiatric disorders."
