Tag Archives: Neuroscience

The Critical Window, Epigenetics, and Stress — and Maybe Mental Health too

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Chris Womack

The past few weeks have been good for stress. Two labs published studies supporting the idea that stress during sensitive periods in early development can cause epigenetic changes affecting how an organism turns out. These studies look at mice and humans, respectively. I’m diving into the mouse study today — it’s got two kinds of epigenetics: an inherited, probably chromatin-mark imprinting angle; and an miRNA angle. I’ll get to the human study from the Kobor lab next time. As an aside, I find “stress and epigenetics”  especially interesting because I’m always looking for clues about how this new-ish field is perceived and represented by the lay public, and “stress” is a lay-public magnet. As I’ve talked about before, aside from … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioral Epigenetics, DNA Methylation | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

To Succeed, Develop Your Talents Epigenetically

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

While visiting Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago, I attended a soccer game. I’m not a big soccer fan. Yet there I was up on my feet, hollering. You just can’t help yourself. Brazilians are the best soccer players in the world! Inspired by that game, I read the book Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham and the Science of Success by the British, former ping pong champion turned journalist, Matthew Syed. The book presents evidence that success is driven primarily by effort, not genetics. Just the idea of innate talents, has a negative effect on motivation and success. Society would achieve more if everyone understood that expertise is concretely achievable – you are not just born with it. There are … Continue reading →

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Targeting an Epigenetic Biomarker for Fragile X

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Epigenetics is bringing a needed perspective to a important public health issue. Many people with Fragile X have autism, or symptoms of autism. The condition is associated with learning, physical, social and emotional, speech and language, and sensory problems. Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment (ABA) is a set of methods which can be used to target and modify problematic symptoms and behaviors. It is effective – but also an arduous task in treating the symptoms of autism. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an epigenetic drug treatment which could be used with ABA producing an enhanced, synergistic effect? Neuroscience experts call Fragile X syndrome a disease of synaptic plasticity. Neuropychologists have already determined that early intervention produces the most effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Clinical Studies, Neuroscience, Translational Research, X-linked | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment