Developmental programming of stress responses in Indian children and their association with cardiovascular risk and cognitive function. (360G-Wellcome-095147_Z_10_Z)

Recent studies suggest that the association between impaired growth in early life and adult chronic disease may be mediated by an exaggerated physiological response to stress, resulting in up-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system. This study proposes to test this hypothesis in 250 children aged 13-14 years, from a birth cohort in Mysore, India. After baseline salivary cortisol and cardiac activity measurements, the Trier Social Stress Test for children , a humane method of inducing psychological stress in children, will be administered. Cardiac reactivity will be measured throughout the test and salivary cortisol concentrations will be measured afterwards. Fasting blood samples will be taken for plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, insulin resistance (HOMA), and lipid concentrations. Cognitive function will be assessed using a validated cognitive battery. This study will show whether impaired intra-uterine and infant growth and rapid childhood growth are associated with elevated stress responses and cardiovascular risk factors in Indian children. This will add to the scientific understanding of early life programming of non-communicable disease through altered stress-responsiveness.