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Epigenetic programming—The important first 1000 days
Author(s) -
Linnér Agnes,
Almgren Malin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.15050
Subject(s) - epigenetics , medicine , psychosocial , disease , stressor , famine , phenotype , bioinformatics , psychiatry , genetics , biology , gene , political science , law
The perinatal period is a time of fast physiological change, including epigenetic programming. Adverse events may lead to epigenetic changes, with implications for health and disease. Our review covers the basics of clinical epigenetics and explores the latest research, including the role of epigenetic processes in complex disease phenotypes, such as neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and immunological disorders. Some studies suggest that epigenetic alterations are linked to early life environmental stressors, including mode of delivery, famine, psychosocial stress, severe institutional deprivation and childhood abuse. Conclusion Epigenetic modifications due to perinatal environmental exposures can lead to lifelong, but potentially reversible, phenotypic alterations and disease.