Early Life Experiences Impact Brain Function and Epigenetics in Adulthood

Functional movement/conversion disorder (FMD) is a neuropsychiatric condition marked by a range of neurological symptoms, including tremors, muscular spasms, and cognitive difficulties. A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital demonstrated that FMD is characterized by epigenetic changes, and that women and childhood abuse survivors with FMD have different epigenetic profiles linked to this condition. The study is the first to demonstrate the occurrence of epigenetic changes in FMD. The group hopes that other researchers can use their findings to further understand the role of genetic and environmental interactions in FMD and other poorly understood functional disorders.