The impact of early life stress on vascular aging

Project Summary This project aims to explore how early life stress (ELS) and adversity contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adulthood using a preclinical mouse model. Clinical research demonstrates that ELS accelerates aging processes and increases susceptibility to neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, with a particular focus on vascular dysfunction. However, the complex behavioral and social factors associated with ELS make it difficult to pinpoint specific mechanisms linking ELS to CVD. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this proposal addresses this gap by investigating how ELS affects cardiovascular structure, function, aging, and future CVD risk. The project will examine two specific objectives using an animal model of early life adversity. (Aim 1) Evaluate the effects of early life adversity on vascular structure and function in adulthood. (Aim 2) Investigate vascular molecular changes in adulthood due to early life adversity. This study will advance understanding of how ELS influences adult CVD risk, identify potential sex-specific vascular markers, and provide insights into therapeutic targets for CVD linked to early-life adversity.