2023 | Track 1 | Stressed Out Moms - Targeting the Body to Treat the Brain and Prevent Intergenerational Transmission of Mental Health Issues
TRACK 1 SEED GRANT | Whole Health Consortium
Stressed Out Moms - Targeting the Body to Treat the Brain and Prevent Intergenerational Transmission of Mental Health Issues
TEAM:
- Dr. Julia Basso, Human Development and Family Science
- Dr. Geogia Hodes, School of Neuroscience
- Dr. Brittany Howell, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
- Mackenzie Aychman, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
- Dawson Kropp, School of Neuroscience
- Dr. Jaclyn Nunziato, Huddle Up Moms
Depression is characterized by sadness, irritability, loss of interest, suicidal thoughts, and is associated with inflammation. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression, with mothers of young children being one of the most at-risk populations. Children of mothers with depression have a higher risk of developing depression, making this an issue for the mother-child partnership. Current medications are contraindicated in young children, have significant side effects, and are only fully effective in 30% of individuals. There is a need for developing alternative, non-pharmacological approaches, especially those that are focused on mother-child relationships. Our project will address this need by providing an arts-based intervention that will support both mental health and social connection for mothers and children. Additionally, our project explores the biology underlying depression, how it is passed from one generation to the next, and whether we can intervene to prevent transgenerational effects. We propose to identify inflammatory immune factors related to maternal depression, determine if excessive immune responses are passed from mother to child, and test a non-pharmacological intervention that reduces inflammation, decreases maternal depression, and improves mother-child connectivity. Drs. Julia Basso, Georgia Hodes, Brittany Howell, and community partner Huddle Up Moms, are dedicated to improving mother-child health and wellness. We utilize behavioral, neuroscientific, and immunological approaches to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of women and their children. Our long-term goal is to build a mother-child whole body center that supports both research efforts and serves an unmet need in our community.