Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) is a scientific discipline that studies the correlation between fetal and early childhood environment and long-term health and disease risk. The concept is based on the idea that environmental factors, particularly nutrition, can alter the development of an organism during its early life and that these changes can have long-term effects on the organism's health.

Overview

The DOHaD concept was first proposed by David Barker in the late 1980s. Barker's hypothesis, also known as the Barker Hypothesis, suggested that many adult diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, could be linked back to early life conditions, particularly nutrition during pregnancy.

Mechanisms

The mechanisms behind DOHaD are complex and involve a range of biological systems. One key mechanism is epigenetic modification, where changes in gene expression occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These modifications can be caused by environmental factors and can be passed on to subsequent generations.

Implications

The implications of DOHaD are significant, as it suggests that interventions to improve health and prevent disease may need to start much earlier in life than previously thought. This has led to a focus on improving maternal health and nutrition, as well as early life nutrition, as a way to prevent adult disease.

Research

Research in DOHaD is ongoing and covers a wide range of areas, from basic biological research to clinical studies and public health interventions. Some of the key areas of research include the effects of maternal nutrition on fetal development, the role of epigenetics in disease development, and the long-term effects of early life stress on adult health.

See also

• Barker Hypothesis
• Epigenetics
• Fetal programming
• Maternal nutrition

References

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Resources
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