Mother's love can prevent illness in middle age The team, from Brandeis University in Massachusetts assessed 1,000 adults for illnesses associated with lower socio-economic status, such as diabetes and strokes. They also followed 1,200 people over ten years to try and see what affects maternal nurturing had on their overall health. Study author Professor Margie Lachman, whose findings were published in journal Psychological Science said: "The literature is very clear that people who are low in socioeconomic status have worse health than their same age counterparts. Modifiable factors play an important role, and we are realising that things can be done to try to minimise these health disparities. Clearly money and health care access are part of it, she says, but numerous studies show they play a very small role, as countries with universal health care have the same social gradient. Emerging literature reveals that many of the health problems in midlife, including metabolic syndrome, can be traced back to what happened in early childhood. The stresses of childhood can leave a biological residue that shows up in midlife. Yet, among those at risk for poor health, adults who had nurturing mothers in childhood fared better in physical health in midlife. She added: "Perhaps it's a combination of empathy, the teaching of coping strategies or support for enrichment."