“Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation (DNAm), can play a role in the biological embedding of early-life adversity through serotonergic mechanisms.”

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“The current study examines methylation of the CpG island in the promoter region of the stress-responsive serotonin transporter gene and is the first to jointly assess how it is influenced by early-life adversity severity, timing, and type—specifically, deprivation and threat.”

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“We use data from 627 Youth Emotion Project study participants, recruited from two US high schools.”

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“….we analyze DNA collected in early adulthood from 410 participants and early-life adversity based on interviewer-rated responses from concurrent Childhood Trauma Interviews, adjusting for survey-measured covariates.”

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“When modeled jointly, adolescent early-life adversity was most strongly predictive, and child adversity remained significantly associated with DNAm through indirect associations via adolescent adversity.”

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“Results further implicate epigenetic modification on serotonergic neurotransmission via DNAm in the downstream sequelae of early-life adversity—particularly adolescent deprivation—and support preventive interventions in adolescence to mitigate biological embedding.”

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S.M. Koning, et al

Early-life adversity severity, timing, and context type are associated with SLC6A4 methylation in emerging adults: Results from a prospective cohort study

Psychneuroendocrinology — Volume 170 — December 2024