Epigenesis: consequences of an adverse childhood

Abstract

Maltreatment during early-life is a world health problem whose long-term consequences have been poorly described. Multiple studies show that an adverse childhood increases the risk of developing cardiovascular, metabolic, inmunologic and psiquiatric disorders in adulthood. However, how is it that several years after the adverse event physiological and behavioral alterations can still be observed? A possible explanation relies on epigenetic alterations in the cells’ genome, which affects the expression of hereditary information without changing its nucleotide sequence. Recent studies suggest that changes in methylation patterns of genetic material are one of the epigenetic mechanisms through which an adverse infancy leaves a footprint in an adult’s physical and emotional health.

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