Transgenerational Trauma and Epigenetics: How Both Influence Your Genes And Health

Article Summary

This article discusses the emerging field of epigenetics and transgenerational trauma, and how traumatic experiences of one individual — including war, famine, and genocide — can impact the physical and mental health of their offspring and subsequent generations. Health conditions that can arise from unresolved transgenerational trauma include heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), poor immunity, and eating disorders. Breaking the cycle of transgenerational trauma is also covered, such as trauma-informed care that may include cognitive behavioral therapy. Supportive herbal remedies include Nicole's Apothecary Anxiety & Stress Blend tincture, formulated by Nicole Apelian, PhD. 

The Link Between Epigenetics and Transgenerational Trauma

If you have a parent or grandparent who lived through a war, holocaust, famine, or other stressful life-altering event, you may find that their experience can have significant impacts on your own worldview, quality of life, and health. Researchers have found that traumatic experiences can be passed down from generation to generation and have substantial consequences, right down to your DNA. How so? The answer lies in a field of study called epigenetics that has established how emotions, behaviors, experiences, and environment shape genetics by activating or silencing parts of human DNA — including that of future generations.

What is transgenerational trauma?

Transgenerational trauma is when a traumatic event impacts multiple generations. An example is when a person lived through a war, holocaust, or famine where aspects of their suffering are passed along to future generations. Researchers have found that women who were pregnant during a famine had children that were more likely to have cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes — along with shorter lifespans.^{[ 1 ]}1. "The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint?" NPR, February 25, 2021.^{[ 6 ]}6. Yehuda, Rachel, and Amy Lehrner. "Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms." World Psychiatry 17,3 (2018): 243-257. But it doesn't end there. Their grandchildren were also found to have poor health too — even though there wasn't a direct physical effect of starvation. As it turns out, trauma and stressors can be passed down through generations by "memory imprints" in our cells. The researchers noted, "...grandmaternal stress during pregnancy was associated with genome‐wide methylation changes in offspring and grandchildren."^{[ 6 ]}6. Yehuda, Rachel, and Amy Lehrner. "Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms." World Psychiatry 17,3 (2018): 243-257.^{[ 7 ]}7. Serpeloni F, Radtke K, de Assis SG et al. "Grandmaternal stress during pregnancy and DNA methylation of the third generation: an epigenome‐wide association study." Translational Psychiatry, 2017.

How Transgenerational Trauma Affects Your Genes

The reason for this biological transfer is called "epigenetic inheritance of trauma". Epigenetics is where our behaviors and environment shape the way our body uses DNA. The key factor involves tiny molecules that cover our DNA strands. These markers determine how our DNA is read — resulting in silencing or amplifying specific areas. They are constantly interacting with the environment, which can involve anything from your diet to physical or emotional stress, toxins — even your thoughts and emotions.

Researchers have established that this same cascade of influences can impact multiple generations in both animal and human studies, not just the individual exposed to the trauma or their direct offspring.

A 2023 study published in the journal Genes put this to the test by looking at the genetic impact of separation trauma in mice. The lead researcher identified ncRNA molecules in the sperm of the traumatized male that they believed are responsible for the transmission of the traumatized phenotype.^{[ 2 ]}2. Švorcová, Jana. "Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals." Genes 14,1 120. 1 Jan. 2023.

To eliminate the possibility of social transmission, the researchers injected the ncRNA molecules into the cells of embryos from non-traumatized parents — the mice that grew from these embryos "displayed the same behavioral patterns as the traumatized males." The team found that this transgenerational transmission could last for up to five generations.

Another study worked with a group of orphans from Pakistan who were 7-12 years old. They were found to have higher levels of miRNAs in their blood samples that alter lipid signaling — including miR-223-3p, a regulator of cholesterol biosynthesis.^{[ 3 ]}3. Jawaid A., Kunzi M., Mansoor M., Khan Z.Y., Abid A., Taha M., Rigotti S., Thumfart K., Faisal S., Chughtai O., et al. "Distinct microRNA signature in human serum and germline after childhood trauma." medRxiv, 2020 preprint. Older individuals (18-25 years old) who had also experienced the trauma of losing a parent were found to have higher levels of these RNAs as well.

An earlier study in 2014 suggested “that trauma-induced methylation changes in humans can be transmitted from parents to children." Moreover, transmission of PTSD from mothers exposed to genocide to their children was associated with alterations of the HPA axis.^{[ 4 ]}4. Perroud, Nader et al. "The Tutsi genocide and transgenerational transmission of maternal stress: epigenetics and biology of the HPA axis." The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry 15,4 (2014): 334-345. Likewise, research published in Brain Science noted:

"Our review found an accumulating amount of evidence of an enduring effect of trauma exposure to be passed to offspring transgenerationally via the epigenetic inheritance mechanism of DNA methylation alterations and has the capacity to change the expression of genes and the metabolome."^{[ 5 ]}5. Youssef, Nagy A et al. "The Effects of Trauma, with or without PTSD, on the Transgenerational DNA Methylation Alterations in Human Offsprings." Brain Sciences 8,5 83. 8 May 2018.

Keep in mind that trauma can arise in many different forms — not just war, famine, or abandonment. In fact, "it’s estimated that 70% of adults, about 223 million people worldwide, have reported at least one traumatic experience in their life.”^{[ 8 ]}8. Cleveland Clinic. "What Is Generational Trauma? And How You Can Break the Cycle." Health Essentials, November 3, 2025. Examples include:

• • Bullying, harassment, and persecution
  • Divorce
  • Estrangement or separation from family
  • Incarceration
  • Human trafficking
  • Natural disasters
  • Physical, emotional, mental, or sexual violence
  • Poverty
  • Substance abuse

Breaking the Cycle of Transgenerational Trauma

The impact of generational trauma can have significant consequences on your life and wellbeing that can lead to substance abuse; financial hardship; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); poor immunity; eating disorders; diabetes; heart disease; obesity; difficulty in relationships; violence and abuse; anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

In order to break the cycle of generational trauma, it's important to engage in trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy is an excellent option. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this can help you to:

• • Accept that the trauma is part of your family's experience
• • Acknowledge the effects it has had on you and your family
• • Break unhealthy thought patterns and habits
• • Create positive patterns of thought and behavior

“It’s not as easy as ‘just stopping,’” says forensic nurse Michele Reali-Sorrell, DNP, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P. “Trauma responses are deeply held and hard to shake. Breaking the cycle of generational trauma takes more than sheer willpower, it often requires support, tools and new ways of thinking.”^{[ 8 ]}8. Cleveland Clinic. "What Is Generational Trauma? And How You Can Break the Cycle." Health Essentials, November 3, 2025.

For additional resources to support healing, see my posts on grief.

The Takeaway

Transgenerational trauma is well-established in scientific literature as causing epigenetic changes in multiple generations. It can shape your worldview, health, and mental wellbeing. As we have seen, when trauma remains unresolved or occurs during pregnancy, it can have profound effects on the emotional, physical, and mental health of subsequent generations. The path to healing begins with thoughtful trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy is an outstanding place to begin. Supportive herbal remedies are also a helpful addition to your treatment protocol. Nicole's Apothecary Anxiety & Stress Blend combines adaptogens, calming nervines, and cognitive supportive botanicals for a well-rounded formulation that addresses anxiety, depression, stress, and restless sleep.

Find Your Balance

Nicole Apelian

Actions Steps & FAQs

Nicole's Apothecary Products in this Post

References

1. "The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint?" NPR, February 25, 2021. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/947232031
2. Švorcová, Jana. “Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals.” Genes vol. 14,1 120. 1 Jan. 2023, doi:10.3390/genes14010120.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9859285/
3. Jawaid A., Kunzi M., Mansoor M., Khan Z.Y., Abid A., Taha M., Rigotti S., Thumfart K., Faisal S., Chughtai O., et al. Distinct microRNA signature in human serum and germline after childhood trauma. medRxiv. 2020. preprint. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.11.20168393v2
4. Perroud, Nader et al. “The Tutsi genocide and transgenerational transmission of maternal stress: epigenetics and biology of the HPA axis.” The world journal of biological psychiatry: the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry vol. 15,4 (2014): 334-45. doi:10.3109/15622975.2013.866693. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24690014/
5. Youssef, Nagy A et al. “The Effects of Trauma, with or without PTSD, on the Transgenerational DNA Methylation Alterations in Human Offsprings.” Brain sciences vol. 8,5 83. 8 May. 2018, doi:10.3390/brainsci8050083. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5977074/
6. Yehuda, Rachel, and Amy Lehrner. “Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms.” World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) vol. 17,3 (2018): 243-257. doi:10.1002/wps.20568. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6127768/
7. Serpeloni F, Radtke K, de Assis SG et al. Grandmaternal stress during pregnancy and DNA methylation of the third generation: an epigenome‐wide association study. Transl Psychiatry 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28809857/
8. "What Is Generational Trauma? And How You Can Break the Cycle" Cleveland Clinic | Health Essentials, November 3, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/generational-trauma