Delhi Delhi. High levels of maternal stress hormones early in pregnancy may have lasting effects on children's health, according to a long-term study conducted on wild monkeys. A study conducted on wild Assamese macaques in Thailand provides evidence of stress mechanisms under natural environmental conditions. Provides important information about the impact of early life stages on development.

Researchers at the University of Gottingen in Germany and the German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research found that the effects of stress were evident by the age of 10. This research is relevant because stress in the early stages of pregnancy can also have long-term effects on the health of humans. And stress can increase the risk of disorders and immune problems. The study found that exposure to stress increases the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This axis plays a central role in coping with stress and can be significantly influenced by exposure to maternal glucocorticoids during development.

The early stage of organ differentiation in the first half of pregnancy proved to be a particularly critical period. “Our research results demonstrate that the timing of exposure to maternal stress hormones during and after pregnancy significantly affects offspring development and health outcomes. It is also important to note that catastrophic events are not responsible for these effects. Not required, but even minor changes in environmental conditions are sufficient,” said scientist Oliver Schulke of the University of Göttingen and the German Primate Centre.

However, the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B showed that increased stress hormones during pregnancy or after birth do not have the same effect. “Our findings may help identify timing and mechanisms to address preventive measures to reduce long-term health risks,” Schulke said. Unlike studies conducted in the laboratory, the monkeys were observed in their natural habitat. Over nine years, researchers repeatedly collected stool samples from pregnant female monkeys and measured the concentrations of glucocorticoid metabolites in them to understand the animals' exposure to environmental factors such as food deprivation, temperature fluctuations, and social interaction.