Study uncovers how prenatal stress leaves a molecular imprint on babies

A new study has uncovered how stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy leaves a molecular imprint on their babies—starting before birth. The research shows that prenatal stress alters the expression of tiny RNA molecules in newborn blood, particularly in girls, and affects key enzymes in the brain's stress-regulation system. These changes may help explain why some children are more vulnerable to developmental or psychiatric challenges. The study opens new possibilities for early diagnosis and interventions targeting stress-related health risks.

A new study led by Prof. Hermona Soreq and Shani Vaknine Treidel from the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science (ELSC) at Hebrew University, uncovers how stress experienced during pregnancy can affect newborns at the molecular level - with significant differences between male and female babies.

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, focused on perceived prenatal stress (PPS) - the mother's own sense of psychological stress during pregnancy - and discovered that it can reprogram key molecular pathways in the baby's body, especially those linked to the cholinergic system, which governs stress response and inflammation.

"We found that even before babies take their first breath, the stress their mothers experience can shape how their bodies manage stress themselves," said Prof. Soreq.

The team analyzed umbilical cord blood from babies born to mothers who reported high stress levels during the third trimester. They focused on small RNA molecules called tRNA fragments (tRFs), which regulate gene expression much like microRNAs. What they found was remarkable: the stress didn't just alter individual tRFs—it affected entire families of tRFs, particularly those with origins in mitochondrial DNA.

These changes were sex-specific, with female newborns showing the most dramatic shifts, including a near-complete decline in specific mitochondrial tRFs. Many of these tRFs, termed "CholinotRFs," target genes that govern acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for both brain function and immune regulation.

The study also measured levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. Newborns of stressed mothers—especially boys—had significantly higher levels of AChE, suggesting an imbalance in their stress-response system right from birth.

These molecular changes could help explain why children exposed to high maternal stress during pregnancy may be more vulnerable to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions later in life.

By using machine learning techniques, the researchers were able to accurately classify female newborns as exposed or unexposed to maternal stress based on their CholinotRF profiles, achieving a classification success rate (AUC) of 95%. This opens the door to new diagnostic tools for detecting prenatal stress effects and possibly even early interventions.

"This study provides a powerful glimpse into how the maternal environment can leave a lasting biological imprint on the next generation," said Vaknine Treidel. "It also underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting mental health during pregnancy—not just for the mother, but for the lifelong health of the child."

This study was conducted as part of the international FELICITy project, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich and the University of Washington, among others. Blood samples were collected from over 120 mother-infant pairs and analyzed at the Hebrew University's Center for Genomic Technologies.