Epigenetics and a New Era in Health: How Rapidly Are You Aging?
9 November 2023
Every single cell in our body encloses the same genetic information, a complete and unique blueprint that builds the individual. What differentiates a brain cell from a liver cell, or any other cell, is the activation and inactivation of specific genes. The science investigating the regulatory mechanisms that switch genes on and off is called epigenetics.
Comparably, our genes are identical when we are young, old, healthy, or sick. When we grow old or get sick, we witness the response of our body to epigenetic modifications. It has been shown for example, that most chronic diseases such as heart diseases and cancer can be linked to changes in epigenetic markers. Similarly, our environment and our lifestyle impact how our genes are fine-tuned to adapt to positive or adverse environments. For example, epigenetic modifications linked to smoke exposure can be measured to assess how smokers are impacted by their habit and also how they recover after smoking cessation.
“When triggering the right levers, biological age can be reduced, and impaired epigenetics can be reversed.”
Source: Clinique La Prairie
Epigenetics is the link between nature – our genetic heritage – and nurture – how we build on this heritage every day. This is particularly true when it comes to aging, as the genetic background is a relatively weak predictor of longevity compared to lifestyle. Aging is a combination of time, inherited genes, environment, and lifestyle, all factors directly impacting on our epigenetic landscape. Recent research has demonstrated that biological age, based on epigenetic markers, is a promising predictor of longevity and deleterious effects of aging such as chronic diseases and cognitive decline. Most importantly, it has been shown that when triggering the right levers, biological age can be reduced, and impaired epigenetics can be reversed.
There is therefore a tremendous interest in epigenetics for preventive medicine. An early assessment of the relationships between genetics, environment, prenatal exposure, and disease risk for an individual will be decisive in preventing or mitigating diseases before they occur. Likewise, apprehending the link between environmental and nutritional risk factors and later disease is key to start improving the factors that matter. Identifying which modifiable habit is specifically impacting an individual can help trigger the best lifestyle change for a better life.
“Identifying which modifiable habit is specifically impacting an individual could help trigger the best lifestyle change for a better life”
Read the full article at https://cliniquelaprairie.com/en/wellness-breakthrough-epigenetics
What does Detox mean?