Domestic violence may leave telltale damage in the brain. Scientists want to find it

Maria E. Garay-Serratos holds a framed photograph of her mother, who died after suffering decades of domestic violence. Scientists are trying to understand how domestic violence damages the brain. (Julio Serratos/Maria E. Garay-Serratos)

María E. Garay-Serratos was about 4 years old when she first saw her father assault her mother.

"My mom was hit a lot," says Garay-Serratos. "There was choking, a lot of shaking, objects thrown at her, shoved against the wall, thrown against appliances, dragged by her hair in the yard."