Erinc Dunn News Today

Epigenetic mechanisms, which are sensitive to environmental factors, function like a dimmer switch on our genes, controlling how much of the gene is expressed and how much is turned off over time, says first author Alexandre A. Lussier, research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital

In an analysis of changes in epigenetic patterns in children and adolescents, researchers found that ages 3 through 5 is a potentially critical period for the biological embedding of childhood adversity that manifests in adolescence.

Researchers have identified various genes whose expression in the brain before birth may affect the risk of developing a range of mental illnesses during childhood. The team, which was led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of Mass General Brigham (MGB), published their findings recently in Nature Neuroscience.

The expression of certain genes in the brain before birth could influence the risk of developing various mental illnesses during childhood.

Plus, how you can prepare a child for a dental procedure

Baby teeth could one day lead to the development of a much-needed tool for identifying children who are at risk for psychological problems, according to a study

According to a study by the University of Bristol, baby teeth could one day lead to the development of a much-needed tool for identifying children who are at risk for psychological problems.

According to a study by the University of Bristol, baby teeth could one day lead to the development of a much-needed tool for identifying children who are at ri

Baby teeth may reveal clues about the effects of childhood adversity, which research suggests is responsible for up to one-third of all mental health disorders.