Generational Patterns of Stress: Help From Our Microbes?

Abstract

Exposure to adverse events affects the development of stress and threat response systems, and emerging evidence suggests that these effects are transmitted to future generations. How such effects are transmitted, and, similarly, how they can be ameliorated, is the topic of this article. Recent evidence demonstrates generational transmission of traits acquired following environmental exposures such as stress (e.g., parental deprivation) and dietary change (e.g., famine, high-fat diet). These diverse environmental exposures often affect both mental and physical health and appear to be transmitted through similar epigenetic and behavioral mechanisms. This convergence suggests an interesting possibility—dietary/gut-directed manipulations may work to prevent the transgenerational transmission of adversity. Although future research is required, gastrointestinal treatments show early promise in the treatment of generational mental health and are both economic and globally accessible.