What Happened in Childhood Could Be Causing Your Gut Issues Today

A study finds that early-life stress can disrupt gut-brain communication and raise the risk of digestive disorders later in life.

Mouse and human data point to changes in sympathetic signaling and serotonin as likely mechanisms.

The findings link childhood stress and prenatal exposure to maternal depression with later issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation.

Researchers say the results could help guide more targeted treatments for different stress-related digestive conditions.