WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Researchers who looked at the brains of suicide victims said this week their findings have helped support theories that childhood abuse can alter the genes and cause lifelong damage.

They found clear changes in the brains of people who were ab used as children and who committed suicide in comparison to the brains of people who were not abused and who died in accidents or suicide.

This helps explain why childhood abuse, such as sexual abuse or neglect, can cause depression, other mental health effects and suicide, and could some day lead to treatments to help victims overcome their abusive childhoods.