Stress takes a toll on everyone, but growing up in a stressful situation may harm the future health of infants and young children. Children who live with chronic stress are more likely to develop illnesses and may be at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. In addition, children with a history of early life stress may develop depression early on. In extreme cases, children even stop growing until their high-stress environment is changed. Delia Vazquez, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist and neuroendocrine scientist, is studying the development of the classical endocrine system that responds to stress and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and its interaction with growth hormone systems.

To learn more about the relationship between a mother’s depression and the development of her infant’s stress hormone system, Vazquez is involved in a long-term study of new mothers at U-M Women’s Hospital who have a high risk of developing depression.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the study, please call 734-615-7864 or E-mail peds-pimacs@med.umich.edu.