Dr. Sara Poletti, a senior researcher at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan, has uncovered how childhood trauma can leave a lasting mark on both the brain and immune system, increasing the risk of mental health disorders like depression and bipolar disorder later in life.
Her research shows that early traumatic experiences trigger chronic inflammation in the brain—a long-lasting immune response that changes brain structure and function.
This means childhood stress doesn’t just impact emotions but actually reshapes biology, creating vulnerability to psychiatric conditions.
Using brain scans and immune markers, Dr. Poletti’s team is exploring why some people develop mental illness after trauma while others remain resilient.
The goal is to identify biological signs of trauma early and develop targeted treatments, including immune-based therapies, that could prevent or reduce psychiatric disorders.
This work highlights the importance of early intervention and trauma prevention to protect lifelong mental health and moves psychiatric care toward addressing the root biological causes, not just symptoms.
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