deprivation and neglect can cause premature aging of chromosomes for children, a new study suggests.
Researchers examined the DNA samples taken from children institutionalised (62 boys and 47 girls) in Romania to the taking part in a long-term study. Some children remained in the institution, while others were transferred to the placement of high quality at different ages.
Children who spend more time in an institution before 5 years had premature to the tips of chromosomes (Telomeres) shortening when they reached age 6 to 10, the researchers found.
"The Telomere is designed to protect the chromosome, therefore accelerate how early life Telomeres lose correlates to the shortened life span length," lead researcher Charles Nelson, Director of the laboratories of cognitive neuroscience at children's Hospital Bostonsaid in a press release from the hospital. "Institutionalized early in life children shorter Telomeres, which can lead to consequences of health downstream, including premature aging."
He and his colleagues have found differences between girls and boys. The strongest predictor of the Telomere shortening of girls was the amount of time spent in the institution before the age of 22 months. For boys, it is the amount of time spent in the institution before the age of 54 months.
The study was published online may 17 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Previous research has linked shorter length Telomere in adults with cognitive defects and higher rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
"A question that we are currently studying is if Telomere Length may recover as a child spends more time in foster care, or shortening, we observed reflects a permanent change", said Nelson.
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