Exercising your body and your brain are two ways to improve your own health. It’s well known that physical and mental activity can boost learning ability and reduce risk for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. But, could doing so also directly benefit your future children? New research in Cell Reports indicates that a child’s capacity for learning could … Continue reading Parents Who Exercise Could Epigenetically Pass on Heightened Learning Ability to Their Children
A Father’s Stress Felt for Generations
New scientific research suggests that the negative effects of trauma can be inherited. Fathers may actually transfer the consequences of their early experiences to their children via an epigenetic process. Researchers report that mice that experienced stress early on passed down the negative consequences – depression, underestimation of risk, and upset of metabolism – to … Continue reading A Father’s Stress Felt for Generations
High Estrogen Levels Might Epigenetically Protect Women From a Traumatic Event
Whether a woman’s estrogen level is high or low could determine if she may be susceptible to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to recent research. Estrogen has been found to epigenetically change gene activity in the brain and could even protect a woman from emotional numbness, flashbacks, and difficulty sleeping – all symptoms of PTSD … Continue reading High Estrogen Levels Might Epigenetically Protect Women From a Traumatic Event
Fathers Affected by Early Life Trauma May Impact Later Generations Through Sperm MicroRNAs
When it comes to reproductive health, it’s no secret that a pregnant mother’s choices and environment can severely impact her child’s epigenetics and health—especially mothers suffering from PTSD. But it turns out fathers who have suffered significant stress early on in their life may also epigenetically impact the physical and mental health of their offspring. It was previously … Continue reading Fathers Affected by Early Life Trauma May Impact Later Generations Through Sperm MicroRNAs
Arthritic Joints May Need Different Treatments Due to Diverse Epigenetic Signatures
Arthritis is a widespread, debilitating disease characterized by inflammation of the joints. It affects at least 52 million adults in the United States – that’s more than 1 out of every 5 people, according to the CDC. Although medication has improved in recent years, the diversity in pathogenic pathways in certain types of arthritis, for example, rheumatoid … Continue reading Arthritic Joints May Need Different Treatments Due to Diverse Epigenetic Signatures
Dad’s Life Experiences May Epigenetically Influence His Children’s Health
Mothers have often – unfortunately and unfairly – had to carry the burden of being “to blame” for any of their child’s health-related shortcomings. When pregnant women are advised: eat more of this but not too much of that, drink this but definitely none of that… why does dad get off scot-free amid these typically well-intentioned suggestions? Previous studies … Continue reading Dad’s Life Experiences May Epigenetically Influence His Children’s Health
Overweight Fathers May Epigenetically Increase Their Daughters’ Risk of Breast Cancer
Although we typically think the mother has a large impact on her child’s health, epigenetic research is beginning to suggest that a father’s behavior may also have a significant amount of influence. Recently, we posted a blog article on the epigenetic influence a father’s lifestyle has on his children, showing that both mothers and fathers contribute to their … Continue reading Overweight Fathers May Epigenetically Increase Their Daughters’ Risk of Breast Cancer
Circadian Rhythms, Epigenetics and Disease
Epigenetics has many connections to our cellular processes. It regulates the expression of our genes, so it wouldn’t surprise us that epigenetics is involved in the regulation of our circadian rhythms as well. But what exactly are these circadian rhythms and how can they be involved in certain processes of health and disease? What are circadian rhythms? Circadian rhythms are … Continue reading Circadian Rhythms, Epigenetics and Disease
A Fatty Diet May Affect Behavior Across Generations Through Epigenetic Mechanisms
Having a high-fat diet (HFD) is not only linked to obesity but also to an increased risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain mental health disorders. With obesity levels on the rise, it’s critical that we know more about how a HFD affects the body and find ways for early prevention. In … Continue reading A Fatty Diet May Affect Behavior Across Generations Through Epigenetic Mechanisms
How Eating Zinc Could Affect DNA Methylation and the Immune System
Zinc is a mineral that’s vital to our health and is involved in several aspects of cellular metabolism. According to the National Institutes of Health, zinc plays a role in a wide range of important processes like healing wounds, synthesizing proteins and DNA, and the division of cells. It’s even required to be able to taste … Continue reading How Eating Zinc Could Affect DNA Methylation and the Immune System
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 