Preliminary Associations Between Childhood Neglect, MIF, and Cortisol: Potential Pathways to Long-Term Disease Risk

Date

2015

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Developmental psychobiology

Abstract

The study examined Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis and inflammatory signaling in 206 youth with histories of prenatal drug exposure and self reported histories of maltreatment. Youth with histories of severe neglect showed elevated levels of cortisol, the end product of the HPA axis, in comparison to youth with lower or minimal levels of neglect. Histories of severe neglect also were associated with increased levels of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF), a cytokine known to be intricately involved in HPA axis regulation. Salivary MIF levels also were positively associated with youth age and prenatal drug exposure. These MIF and cortisol alterations may signal pathophysiological disruptions in the neuro endocrine and immune systems, which may lead to trajectories of increased disease risk among vulnerable youth. Our findings also provide preliminary support for the validity and reliability of a noninvasive salivary assessment of MIF. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, neglect, parenting, long term effects, research

Citation

Bick, J., Nguyen, V., Leng, L., Piecychna, M., Crowley, M. J., Bucala, R., ... & Grigorenko, E. L. (2015). Preliminary associations between childhood neglect, MIF, and cortisol: Potential pathways to longā€term disease risk. Developmental psychobiology, 57(1), 131-139.

DOI