Roots of Your Anxiety May Trace Back to a Time Before You Were Born

Find yourself prone to anxiety? The roots of the condition could stretch back to before you were even born, according to a new study in mice.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine in the US have found that infection or stress in a mother during pregnancy could increase the risk of the offspring developing anxiety as an adult.

Studies have previously shown links between prenatal health problems and mental health issues later in life, including anxiety. In this latest investigation, researchers took a close look at potential neurological mechanisms that could be responsible.

The research team genetically engineered mice in a way that simulates extra inflammation that a pregnant mother might experience under stressful conditions. Then, they carefully monitored the offspring produce