The sex-dependent and enduring impact of pubertal stress on health and disease

Illness is often predicated long before the manifestation of its symptoms. Exposure to stressful experiences particularly during critical periods of development, such as puberty and adolescence, can induce various physical and mental illnesses. Puberty is a critical period of maturation for neuroend...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBrain research bulletin Vol. 200; p. 110701
Main Authors Smith, Kevin B., Murack, Michael, Ismail, Nafissa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2023
Subjects
Adolescent
Aging
Brain
Female
Humans
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Male
Neuroendocrinology
Neuroimmunology
Pituitary-Adrenal System
Puberty
Puberty - physiology
Sex Characteristics
Sex differences
Stress
Aging
Puberty
Sex differences
Neuroendocrinology
Neuroimmunology
Stress
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Summary:Illness is often predicated long before the manifestation of its symptoms. Exposure to stressful experiences particularly during critical periods of development, such as puberty and adolescence, can induce various physical and mental illnesses. Puberty is a critical period of maturation for neuroendocrine systems, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. Exposure to adverse experiences during puberty can impede normal brain reorganizing and remodelling and result in enduring consequences on brain functioning and behaviour. Stress responsivity differs between the sexes during the pubertal period. This sex difference is partly due to differences in circulating sex hormones between males and females, impacting stress and immune responses differently. The effects of stress during puberty on physical and mental health remains under-examined. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent findings pertaining to age and sex differences in HPA axis, HPG axis, and immune system development, and describe how disruption in the functioning of these systems can propagate disease. Lastly, we delve into the notable neuroimmune contributions, sex differences, and the mediating role of the gut microbiome on stress and health outcomes. Understanding the enduring consequences of adverse experiences during puberty on physical and mental health will allow a greater proficiency in treating and preventing stress-related diseases early in development.
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ISSN:0361-9230
1873-2747
DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110701