Project R-10180

Title

Research into the effect of resilience in the perinatal period (EF 56) (Research)

Abstract

The first 1000 days of life, from conception to the age of 2, is the most vulnerable developmental period in life. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis states that disease and health conditions later in life find their origins during fetal or early postnatal life. In this project we aim to associate maternal stress exposure (in the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period), green space and resilience early in life with behavioural development of the next generation. Newborns were followed up from birth to the age of 28-29 years at regular time points. This unique data may provide insights in the DOHaD hypothesis underlying the relation between prenatal stress, resilience and health. Early biological ageing is an important potential biological underlying mechanism linking stress exposure during the first 1000 days of life and health. We therefore will evaluate the role of telomeres, inflammation, epigenetic and metabolic alterations in these observations. We in addition will evaluate the mental health status of the offspring in relation to early life stress exposure. Identification of protective factors will be important for the initial preventive policy steps regarding early life stress events.

Period of project

01 September 2019 - 30 June 2021