Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, and the Childhood Roots of Health Disparities: Building a New Framework for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

A scientific consensus is emerging that the origins of adult disease are often found among developmental and biological disruptions occurring during the early years of life. These early experiences can affect adult health in 2 ways—either by cumulative damage over time or by the biological embedding...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 2009-06, Vol.301 (21), p.2252-2259
Main Authors: Shonkoff, Jack P, Boyce, W. Thomas, McEwen, Bruce S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Adult
Adults
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - physiology
Child
Child Development
Child, Preschool
Disease prevention
General aspects
Health Policy
Health Promotion
Health Status
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
Infant
Medical research
Medical sciences
Mental Health
Miscellaneous
Molecular Biology
Neurosciences
Prevention and actions
Primary Prevention
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk Factors
Social Environment
Stress, Psychological
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Summary:A scientific consensus is emerging that the origins of adult disease are often found among developmental and biological disruptions occurring during the early years of life. These early experiences can affect adult health in 2 ways—either by cumulative damage over time or by the biological embedding of adversities during sensitive developmental periods. In both cases, there can be a lag of many years, even decades, before early adverse experiences are expressed in the form of disease. From both basic research and policy perspectives, confronting the origins of disparities in physical and mental health early in life may produce greater effects than attempting to modify health-related behaviors or improve access to health care in adulthood.
ISSN:0098-7484
1538-3598
DOI:10.1001/jama.2009.754