Journal
EPIGENOMICS
Volume 8, Issue 12, Pages 1653-1669Publisher
FUTURE MEDICINE LTD
DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0075
Keywords
behavior; DNA methylation; epigenetics; health; life course; psychosocial stress
Categories
Funding
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/N000528/1]
- Medical Research Council
- ESRC [ES/N000528/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/N000528/1] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in the processes through which social stressors erode health in humans and other animals. Here I review progress in elucidating the biological pathways underlying the social gradient in health, with particular emphasis on how behavioral stresses influence epigenomic variation linked to health. The evidence that epigenetic changes are involved in embedding of social status-linked chronic stress is reviewed in the context of current knowledge about behavior within animal dominance hierarchies and the impacts of social position on behaviors that affect health. The roles of epigenetic mechanisms in responses to trauma and the evidence for their involvement in intergenerational transmission of the biological impacts of traumatic stress are also considered. Taken together, the emerging insights have important implications for development of strategies to improve societal health and well-being.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available