Epigenetic transmission of risk for chronic pain associated with paternal PTSD

Recent evidence in pain research indicate that pain susceptibility can be transmitted intergenerationally from parent to child although aetiology and mechanism is not well documented. 

Among military personnel and Veterans, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence rates is very high  but the epigenetic mechanisms of PTSD transmission across generations is not yet clear.

PTSD and chronic pain transmission involves many neurological epigenetic pathways such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA regulation. These epigenetic changes related to pain perception, inflammation, and neurotransmission may influence an individual’s predisposition to chronic pain conditions.

The authors also examine the effects of PTSD on parenting behaviours and discuss how these variations could impact the development of chronic pain in children.

They also  highlight the need for further research regarding the interactions between paternal trauma and epigenetic processes to ultimately generate effective prevention and therapeutic strategies for Veterans who have been affected by PTSD and chronic pain.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-025-03267-w

https://sciencemission.com/epigenetic-transmission-of-risk-for-chronic-pain