Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the acronym DOHaD stand for?
What does the acronym DOHaD stand for?
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
What types of diseases are encompassed by the DOHaD theory?
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?
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?
What was the first link that the DOHaD theory of disease was founded on?
Name two types of environmental exposures that can alter epigenetic marks and cellular functions during preconception.
Name two types of environmental exposures that can alter epigenetic marks and cellular functions during preconception.
What is one of the long-term effects that environmental factors can have during embryonic/fetal development?
What is one of the long-term effects that environmental factors can have during embryonic/fetal development?
What are two examples of environmental exposures that can impact development?
What are two examples of environmental exposures that can impact development?
According to the DOHaD theory, what is one way environmental exposures during development affect the onset of disease in later life?
According to the DOHaD theory, what is one way environmental exposures during development affect the onset of disease in later life?
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?
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?
Name two significant developmental processes that are occurring in an individual during infancy and early childhood.
Name two significant developmental processes that are occurring in an individual during infancy and early childhood.
Why is adolescence considered a sensitive developmental stage in the context of DOHaD?
Why is adolescence considered a sensitive developmental stage in the context of DOHaD?
Name two categories of environmental factors that influence development, according to the text?
Name two categories of environmental factors that influence development, according to the text?
Provide one 'upstream' factor in the social environment that can impact an individual’s development.
Provide one 'upstream' factor in the social environment that can impact an individual’s development.
How does the text define 'development' in the context of this course?
How does the text define 'development' in the context of this course?
What is an 'epigenetic' change, as defined in this context?
What is an 'epigenetic' change, as defined in this context?
Name three diseases that are linked to developmental origins, according to the provided text.
Name three diseases that are linked to developmental origins, according to the provided text.
Flashcards
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
States that non-communicable diseases occurring later in life arise due to exposures during early development.
Non-communicable diseases
Non-communicable diseases
Non-contagious diseases that are the leading causes of death, such as diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
Overarching DOHaD Theme
Overarching DOHaD Theme
The concept emphasizes how the early developmental environment can have lasting effects on health.
Sensitive Periods in Development
Sensitive Periods in Development
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Environment in DOHaD
Environment in DOHaD
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Later-in-Life Health in DOHaD
Later-in-Life Health in DOHaD
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Embryonic/Fetal Development
Embryonic/Fetal Development
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Preconception Period
Preconception Period
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Development
Development
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In Utero Environment
In Utero Environment
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Physical Environment
Physical Environment
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Social Environment
Social Environment
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Epigenetic Modifications
Epigenetic Modifications
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Adolescence
Adolescence
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Developmental Plasticity
Developmental Plasticity
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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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