Depressed Moms Can Affect Babies' Brains

Depressed Moms Can Affect Babies' Brains

The out-of-sync parenting of depressed mothers can actually change the physical structure of their child’s brain. Youngsters who don’t have a healthy attachment to their mother can develop a host of mental problems. They might throw frequent temper tantrums, become more withdrawn and nervous, act out in school or even sink into depression themselves.Researchers at the University of Montreal recently discovered structural abnormalities in the brains of 10-year-old children whose mothers suffered from depression throughout the youngsters’ lives. MRI scans revealed an enlarged amygdala, the almond-shaped clump of neurons in the brain that triggers our primitive survival reflex and regulates our emotions.

The amygdala is the source of all fear. It activates the “fight or flight” response that helped our distant ancestors fight bears and flee from woolly mammoths. When the brain perceives a threat, the amygdala releases stress hormones that ready the body for danger. Adrenalin races through the bloodstream. The heart pumps rapidly.Kids with an enlarged amygdala feel as though they’re in constant survival mode. They might act overly fearful, nervous and often angry. Because they struggle with controlling their emotions, they’re often labeled as “bad kids” or diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or ODD (oppositional defiant disorder).

Their mom’s depression could be the culprit. Previous findings suggest that depressed moms are less sensitive to their kids’ needs and less engaged in their lives. This haphazard care can hinder the child’s ability to monitor his own emotions later in life.Although it’s not yet known if an enlarged amygdala can be reversed, therapy can help these children manage their feelings. One way is to assure them frequently that they are safe and secure, which signals the amygdala to—at last—relax.