Heart disease is one of the most prevalent ailments among Americans, and can often be deadly. According to the CDC, about 1 in 4 deaths is directly related to heart disease, and it is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the US. Risk factors that contribute to the development of … Continue reading Epigenetic Mechanism May Reprogram Heart to Fail
A Super Brief and Basic Explanation of Epigenetics for Total Beginners
Epigenetics, as a simplified definition, is the study of biological mechanisms that will switch genes on and off. What does that mean? Well, if you are new to this whole thing, we first need a quick crash course in biochemistry and genetics before learning exactly what is epigenetics: Cells are fundamental working units of every … Continue reading A Super Brief and Basic Explanation of Epigenetics for Total Beginners
Epigenetic Changes Due to Aging May Lead to Cancer
Throughout our lives, all cells in our bodies experience a normal life cycle of growth, maturity, and death. During this time, our cells normally experience damage to DNA by normal functions of the metabolism, or exposure to certain environmental factors like UV light. Ordinarily, our body is able to repair the damage done to the … Continue reading Epigenetic Changes Due to Aging May Lead to Cancer
Protective Epigenetic Marks Go Awry in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to an accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. It affects over 5 million Americans of all ages, particularly those over 65 years of age and is one of the leading causes of death in the US. Currently, there are no … Continue reading Protective Epigenetic Marks Go Awry in Alzheimer’s Disease
Social Deficits of Autism Reversed By Epigenetic Drug
It is estimated that 1 in 59 children in the United States fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects the nervous system and is characterized by challenges with speech, social skills and communication. Many factors can determine a child’s predisposition to developing autism, such as genetic mutations during … Continue reading Social Deficits of Autism Reversed By Epigenetic Drug
Recent Epigenetic Discovery Could Help Revitalize Immune Response to Cancer and Viruses
A recent discovery out of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital finds an epigenetic cause to why T-cells fall ineffective in immune responses to cancer and viral infections. T-cells, a type of cell produced by the thymus gland, are a critical combatant in the human immune system. Their main job is to fight foreign invaders such … Continue reading Recent Epigenetic Discovery Could Help Revitalize Immune Response to Cancer and Viruses
Epigenetic Mechanism Shows Promise in the Fight Against HIV Latency
HIV is a chronic viral infection that attacks the immune system, eventually incapacitating its ability to fight infection leaving the person vulnerable to the development of AIDS, which often leads to death. Anti-retroviral therapies can help to control the virus, but complete eradication of the virus has been tricky to achieve due its stealthy ability … Continue reading Epigenetic Mechanism Shows Promise in the Fight Against HIV Latency
Harnessing Epigenetics to Prevent the Immune System from Attacking Itself
Cannabidiol and Magnesium Help Treats Diabetes. As the weather gets cooler and winter begins to set in, we’re reminded that the immune system is our first line of defense against foreign pathogens and helps prevent us from getting sick. The immune system is comprised of different types of cells that are able to recognize and … Continue reading Harnessing Epigenetics to Prevent the Immune System from Attacking Itself
Epigenetics, Nutrition, and Our Health: How What We Eat Could Affect Tags on Our DNA
Many of us are familiar with the foods that damage our bodies – they slow our metabolism, might add a few pounds, and stiffen our arteries. But what if certain food items could help or harm us in a place we may never have considered – like our DNA? A developing field called nutriepigenomics examines … Continue reading Epigenetics, Nutrition, and Our Health: How What We Eat Could Affect Tags on Our DNA
Viruses Could Epigenetically Modify a Person’s DNA
Viruses can cause many different health problems in humans including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, and even cancer. They are an extremely small foreign organism that invade healthy cells, and seek to wreak havoc in a healthy human or animal. Viruses are comprised of either RNA or DNA covered in a protein shell, and cannot reproduce on … Continue reading Viruses Could Epigenetically Modify a Person’s DNA
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 