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Childhood Stress Linked to Long-Term Digestive Disorders

3/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

New York University researchers report that childhood stress disrupts the gut-brain axis and raises long-term digestive issues.
The study, published in Gastroenterology, analyzes data from more than 40,000 Danish children and 12,000 U.S. children, plus animal models.
Early-life stress can lead to irritable bowel syndrome and chronic stomach pain.
Children of depressed mothers or difficult upbringings are more likely to have digestive disorders by age 10, the researchers say.

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Story summary

New York University researchers report that childhood stress disrupts the gut-brain axis and raises long-term digestive issues.
The study, published in Gastroenterology, analyzes data from more than 40,000 Danish children and 12,000 U.S. children, plus animal models.
Early-life stress can lead to irritable bowel syndrome and chronic stomach pain.
Children of depressed mothers or difficult upbringings are more likely to have digestive disorders by age 10, the researchers say.