The plasticity of development: how knowledge of epigenetics may advance understanding of eating disorders.
| Title | The plasticity of development: how knowledge of epigenetics may advance understanding of eating disorders. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2014 |
| Authors | Strober M, Peris T, Steiger H |
| Journal | Int J Eat Disord |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pagination | 696-704 |
| Date Published | 2014 Nov |
| ISSN | 1098-108X |
| Keywords | Animals, Anxiety Disorders, Birth Weight, Disease Models, Animal, DNA Methylation, Environmental Exposure, Epigenesis, Genetic, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Female, Gene-Environment Interaction, Germ Cells, Humans, Male, Maternal Exposure, Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Paternal Exposure, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Stress, Psychological |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To depict the processes through which animals and human beings engage their environment in continuously evolving states of conflict and cooperation.METHOD: Descriptive literature review.RESULTS: Life history outcomes are more relative than they are absolute. Genetic variations play a crucial role, but heavily influencing behavioral outcomes, psychopathology included, are external cues that epigenetically remodel DNA along experience-dependent signaling pathways. The result is phenotypes that either optimize adjustment, or constrain it.DISCUSSION: Knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms may help shed new light on the origin of maturational phenotypes underlying eating disorders and why adjusting treatments to these realities warrants our attention. |
| DOI | 10.1002/eat.22322 |
| Alternate Journal | Int J Eat Disord |
| PubMed ID | 24976293 |