Ep 59: Can a child's teeth predict their mental health with Dr. Erin Dunn

Host: Dr. Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

Guest: Dr. Erin Dunn

Dr. Erin C. Dunn is an epidemiologist, who studies how often and why people develop (or fail to develop) mental health problems like depression. Her research group studies both social and biological factors that shape risk for depression, including the role of genetics and early life exposure to adversity. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of these factors as they relate to depression among women, children, and adolescents. The long-term goal of her work is to identify strategies to prevent depression and promote brain health across the lifespan.

Summary:

Trigger warning: early life stress, child abuse, spousal abuse.

In today’s episode, we speak to Dr. Erin Dunn, social and psychiatric epidemiologist at Harvard University. We discuss the difference between stress, early life adversity, and childhood trauma. We learn about the long-term effects of adversity and what parents can do to mediate or buffer them. Dr. Dunn answers questions from the audience using scientific research as evidence.

My favorite part of the episode is talking about TEETH! But why teeth? Dr. Dunn studies the layers within your child’s baby teeth to understand how early life stress can be recorded in tooth development. This discussion is absolutely fascinating, I’m so sure you’re going to love it!