Chronic diseases of adults programmed in childhood

Abstract

The conditions of human development during the stages of early ontogenesis are of great importance for human health throughout the rest of his life. The period of intrauterine development and childhood are vulnerable stages of organism formation, when metabolic processes have the greatest plasticity and can be subject to deformation. Exposure to a number of external factors during this period of time can have a significant impact on the functional activity of genes controlling neurotransmission, immune response, endocrine functions and, thus, program the spectrum of metabolic disorders that can lead later to the formation of chronic diseases: obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and diseases of cardiovascular system. Negative programming influence on the metabolic profile and cardiovascular risk is caused by such factors as maternal obesity, complicated pregnancy and childbirth, prematurity, early separation from the mother, violation of child feeding in the 1st year of life. The risk of early development of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes mellitus is significantly increased in individuals who have experienced traumatic stressors during childhood associated with economic disadvantage of the family, parental divorce, neglect, abuse, parental neglect, sexual violence, death of parents, family members, close friends, bullying in the children's community. An in-depth study of this problem, along with the development and organization of measures for monitoring and prevention, in the long term can reduce the burden of chronic non-infectious diseases, improve quality of life, reduce disability, incapacitation and mortality in the adult population..