COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Oct 01, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A study at Texas A&M; of mice separated from their mothers soon after birth finds that early trauma may weaken the immune system.

Psychologist Mary Meagher and immunologist Jane Welsh found the traumatized mice, exposed as adults to a virus that causes polio-like symptoms, had more trouble clearing the virus from their systems. They were also more likely to develop additional chronic symptoms that resemble multiple sclerosis.

The research is part of the university's Recovery of Function program, an interdisciplinary effort aimed at developing new treatments for individuals recovering from injury, infection, aging or neurodegenerative disease.

Meagher said previous studies have shown a majority of people who develop multiple sclerosis suffered a traumatic event in the two years before diagnosis. She hopes her work will lead to ways of counteracting the effect of childhood trauma.

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