How Early Life Adversity Impacts the HPA Axis in Adults (2024)

Undergraduate: Sara Junuzovic

Faculty Advisor: Margaret Sheridan
Department: Psychology and Neuroscience

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Early life adversity (ELA) significantly shapes the development and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, influencing stress reactivity and disease vulnerability. Researchers use cortisol levels from saliva samples to assess diurnal patterns and stress responses, comparing them with ELA measurements to evaluate their interactions. Studies analyzing ELA find flatter CAR, blunted diurnal cortisol slope, and overall compression of cortisol dynamic range. Deprivation in early life is associated with dysregulated cortisol secretion patterns across different stages of development, indicating potential long-term impacts on HPA axis functioning. The timing of adverse experiences demonstrates influence, as different age groups are impacted differently based on when the adversity occurs. Structural brain changes, such as reduced hippocampal volume, are observed in individuals with ELA who have a dysregulated HPA axis. Supportive environments serve as buffers against HPA axis dysregulation induced by ELA. Addressing these gaps informs intervention strategies, allowing for opportunities to improve health outcomes. Despite these advancements, gaps remain in research which are partially due to the lack of methodology standardization, requiring further efforts to refine methodologies and enhance the comprehensiveness of studies in this area.