Children aged six to eight often experience mood swings and heightened sensitivity, which can be perplexing for parents. This phenomenon is attributed to adrenarche, an early hormonal change signaling the onset of puberty before physical changes occur. Dr. Carmen Briner explains that fluctuations in hormones, particularly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), lead to intensified emotions in children. This hormonal precursor foreshadows the actual onset of puberty, generally starting about two years later, and introduces various changes such as body odor and mood shifts. Understanding adrenarche can help parents navigate these challenging moments with their children more effectively.
âWondering why your 7 or 8 year old is suddenly so moody? Puberty starts way before you might think, with the brain signaling to the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to start secreting hormones, which happen before any visible physical changes of puberty start to take place. Puberty isn't just about growth spurts and new body parts. These early hormonal shifts have a huge impact on their emotions...â
âThe main hormonal shift in question, during adrenarche, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is the production of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is a precursor hormone... Bodies continue to produce DHEA into adulthood, reaching its zenith in the early-20s.â
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