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Behavioral epigenetics and the developmental origins of child mental health disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2012

B. M. Lester*
Affiliation:
Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpen Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
C. J. Marsit
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology and Community & Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
E. Conradt
Affiliation:
Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
C. Bromer
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
J. F. Padbury
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpen Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr B. Lester, Department of Pediatrics, Brown Center for Children, Women and Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905 USA. (E-mails blester@wihri.org

Abstract

Advances in understanding the molecular basis of behavior through epigenetic mechanisms could help explain the developmental origins of child mental health disorders. However, the application of epigenetic principles to the study of human behavior is a relatively new endeavor. In this paper we discuss the ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’ including the role of fetal programming. We then review epigenetic principles related to fetal programming and the recent application of epigenetics to behavior. We focus on the neuroendocrine system and develop a simple heuristic stress-related model to illustrate how epigenetic changes in placental genes could predispose the infant to neurobehavioral profiles that interact with postnatal environmental factors potentially leading to mental health disorders. We then discuss from an ‘Evo-Devo’ perspective how some of these behaviors could also be adaptive. We suggest how elucidation of these mechanisms can help to better define risk and protective factors and populations at risk.

Information

Type
Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2012 

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