Prof. Hermona Soreq emphasized that maternal stress can influence how babies manage stress even before birth, highlighting the importance of maternal mental health.

Results indicated that baby girls had decreased levels of CholinotRFs, which are vital for producing acetylcholine, essential for memory and immune function.

Using machine learning techniques, researchers achieved 95% accuracy in classifying newborns based on their tRNA fragment profiles related to maternal stress exposure.

The research shows that stress experienced during pregnancy can alter molecular pathways, particularly affecting the cholinergic system, which governs stress response and inflammation.

The study found that maternal stress affects families of tRNA fragments in umbilical cord blood, particularly those regulating acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter.

Ultimately, the findings could lead to targeted treatments aimed at improving health outcomes for children affected by prenatal stress.

In contrast to baby girls, baby boys exhibited increased levels of the enzyme AChE, which breaks down acetylcholine, suggesting a potential reduction in their stress management ability.

The study highlights the increased risk of mental health and developmental issues in children exposed to prenatal stress, stressing the importance of support for mothers during pregnancy.

A recent study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, part of the international FELICITy project, reveals that prenatal stress can molecularly reprogram newborns' stress response systems, with significant differences observed between sexes.

The research analyzed blood samples from over 120 mother-infant pairs, focusing on umbilical cord blood from babies born to mothers who reported high stress levels during the third trimester.

The research specifically focused on tRNA fragments (tRFs) that originate from mitochondrial DNA and regulate cellular stress responses.

These findings underscore the necessity of addressing maternal mental health for the long-term wellbeing of children, suggesting potential for early intervention and diagnostic tools.