A mother's social interaction with her child, especially if her behavior is cold or awkward, correlated with a small increase in methylation of the child's NR3C1 gene. The NR3C1 is involved in the regulation of the HPA-axis which plays a critical role in stress response and the production of cortisol.
Study reports on epigenetic changes to the FKBP5 gene, a key gene associated with the regulation of stress response in the body, in babies and young children who were injured as a result of abuse, but not accidental injury.
HDAC5, the "epigenetics" enzyme, plays a key role in limiting opioid-associated memories and drug-seeking behaviors following abstinence from drugs in rats. The findings provide a new avenue for the treatment of opioid addiction.
Study reveals how signals from the environment integrate with genetic information that influences the survival and health of neurons, providing new insights into how Parkinson's disease may develop. Findings reveal the TNK2 gene mutations lead to the degeneration of dopamine producing neurons, resulting in Parkinson's disease pathology.
Epigenetics can drive aging in an organism, independently of alterations in the genetic code itself. The breakdown of epigenetic information results in aging in mice, yet restoring the integrity of the epigenome reverses signs of aging.
Aspartame, a sweetener found in diet drinks and food, has been linked to an increased risk of developing anxiety behaviors in a new mouse study. The effects of exposure to aspartame extended for up to two generations.
Twins who were more physically active had lower signs of metabolic disease and epigenetic markers linked to decreased risk of metabolic syndrome. Findings suggest metabolic diseases are strongly influenced by how a person interacts with their environment as opposed to just their inherited genetics.
The epigenetic clocks of those who indulged in unhealthy behaviors as teens were 1.7 to 3.3 years older than individuals who reported more healthy lifestyles as teens.
Post-mortem analysis of the brains of those with Parkinson's disease revealed more than 200 genes with different epigenetic markers compared to healthy brains, but the affected genes were almost entirely different between women and men.
Researchers identified microRNA-7 as a non-classic risk factor for hereditary obesity.
Obesity is, in part, determined by epigenetic development in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Findings suggest developmental epigenetics plays a significant role in both environmental and genetic influences on obesity risk.
By altering the epigenetic markers on chromosomes, researchers witnessed changed gene expression in offspring and grand-offspring. The findings reveal the occurrence of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.