202211201903
Status:
Tags: Genetics Epigenetics

Genetic Risks

Genetic mutations can lead to increased vulnerability to diseases. This does not imply that a certain gene will induce development of disease, but exposure to stressful life events may increase risk of development of disorder when a genetic mutation is present.

Epigenetic Risk

First row: Early life adversity leads to epigenetic programming of stress genes via DNA methylation leading to altered expression of genes. Alterations confer increased vulnerability to disease.
Second row: Genetic mutations can serve as substrate for epigenetic programming in response to childhood trauma & stress. “Pre-activation” increases risk of disorder if later in life a traumatic or stressful event occurs.