DOHaD Concepts and Implications

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Questions and Answers

What does the acronym DOHaD stand for?

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

What types of diseases are encompassed by the DOHaD theory?

Non-communicable diseases

Besides genetics, sex, and age, what else does the DOHaD theory explicitly state contributes to disease risk?

Environmental exposures during adulthood.

What was the first link that the DOHaD theory of disease was founded on?

The link between uterine environment and cardiovascular disease. Signup and view all the answers

Name two types of environmental exposures that can alter epigenetic marks and cellular functions during preconception.

Nutritional influences and exposure to xenobiotics. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the long-term effects that environmental factors can have during embryonic/fetal development?

A profound effect on long-term health. Signup and view all the answers

What are two examples of environmental exposures that can impact development?

Nutritional influences and exposure to foreign chemical substances Signup and view all the answers

According to the DOHaD theory, what is one way environmental exposures during development affect the onset of disease in later life?

Influence the incidence, onset, or severity of the disease or dysfunction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that the fetal stage is considered a highly sensitive period in the context of developmental origins of health and disease?

The dynamic nature of fetal development means that even short term environmental changes can lead to permanent physiological consequences. Signup and view all the answers

Name two significant developmental processes that are occurring in an individual during infancy and early childhood.

Neural growth and immune system maturation are two significant developmental processes in infancy and early childhood. Signup and view all the answers

Why is adolescence considered a sensitive developmental stage in the context of DOHaD?

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and maturation, with major physiological changes affecting multiple organ systems, which makes it sensitive to environmental exposures. Signup and view all the answers

Name two categories of environmental factors that influence development, according to the text?

The text categorizes environmental factors into physical and social environments. Signup and view all the answers

Provide one 'upstream' factor in the social environment that can impact an individual’s development.

Economic status is an upstream factor that can indirectly affect development by influencing access to nutrition and healthcare. Signup and view all the answers

How does the text define 'development' in the context of this course?

Development is defined as the period between gamete formation and post-adolescence/adulthood. Signup and view all the answers

What is an 'epigenetic' change, as defined in this context?

An epigenetic change is a heritable modification to genotypic expression without altering the genetic code itself. Signup and view all the answers

Name three diseases that are linked to developmental origins, according to the provided text.

Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and allergies are linked to developmental origins, as per the text. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

DOHaD posits that non-communicable diseases, those not transmitted through infection, are caused by early-life environmental factors.
These diseases, including diabetes, stroke, and cancer, are leading causes of death.
Early-life exposures significantly influence later health.
Initially based on epidemiological evidence, now supported by experimental research alongside mounting epidemiological studies.
DOHaD does not disregard genetics, adult-life exposures, sex, and age as contributing to disease risk.
The theory emerged from linking uterine environment to cardiovascular disease.

Overarching DOHaD Theme

Development involves sensitive periods of susceptibility to environmental changes.
These changes can create subtle functional alterations that increase disease risk.
Environmental exposures during development impact disease incidence, onset, and severity.

DOHaD Components

Development: The study of susceptibility to the environment during various life stages.
Environment: External forces impacting development, encompassing physical (nutrition, microbiota, xenobiotics) and social (economic status, parental nurturing) factors.
Later-in-Life Health: The consequences of early-life environmental exposures.

Developmental Periods

Preconception

Germ cell development is vulnerable to environmental factors.
Epigenetic modifications and cellular functions in eggs and sperm can be altered by nutritional influences and xenobiotics.
These parental exposures impact the offspring.
Tracking the effect of exposures is complex.

Embryonic/Fetal Development

The period from zygote to fetus (9–10 months) is critical for development.
Environmental influences can profoundly impact long-term health.
Short-term in utero changes can create permanent physiological effects.

Newborn and Early Childhood

Infancy and early childhood are marked by significant development, especially in neural growth and immune system maturation.
Postnatal environmental factors influence long-term health and function.
Breastfeeding supports immune system development.

Adolescence

Puberty causes rapid growth and maturation affecting multiple organ systems.
Environmental exposures during adolescence may have a greater impact than in adulthood.
This stage is less studied in relation to DOHaD.

Environment

Focus on environmental influences during development, comprising:
- Physical Environment: Measurable factors like nutrition, microbes (microbiota), and xenobiotics (foreign chemicals).
- Social Environment: Social, cultural, and contextual influences (e.g., economic status, parental nurturing).
  - These factors can impact health indirectly (e.g., access to healthcare) or directly (e.g., parental care).

Later-in-Life Diseases

Conditions linked to DOHaD: Type 2 diabetes, obesity, allergies, dementia, cancer, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and ADHD.

Definitions

Development: Gamete formation to post-adolescence/adulthood.
Epigenetic: Heritable changes in gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.

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Description

This quiz explores the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, focusing on how early-life environmental factors can influence the risk of non-communicable diseases. Participants will learn about the significant impact of the uterine environment, sensitive periods of development, and the interplay between genetics and environmental exposures that shape health outcomes.