Epigenetics and Understanding the Impact of Social Determinants of Health.
Author: Notterman DA1, Mitchell C2.
Affiliation:
1Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Electronic address: DAN1@princeton.edu. 2Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 426 Thompson Street, 2264 ISR, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA.
Conference/Journal: Pediatr Clin North Am.
Date published: 2015 Oct
Other:
Volume ID: 62 , Issue ID: 5 , Pages: 1227-40 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2015.05.012 , Word Count: 123
Abstract
Recently, a new research agenda emphasizing interactions between social factors and health has emerged. The term social determinant of health often refers to any nonmedical factor directly influencing health. Health across the life span is strongly and adversely affected by social disadvantage. Research in epigenetics indicates that alterations in DNA methylation may provide a causal link between social adversity and health disparity. Likewise, accelerated loss of telomeres is correlated with chronic stress. Research is still required to develop an understanding of the role of epigenetics and perturbed telomere function in linking social adversity with health outcome.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
DNA; Epigenetics; Health disparity; Methylation; Social disparity; Telomere
PMID: 26318949 [PubMed - in process] PMCID: PMC4555996 [Available on 2016-10-01]
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