title: Prospects for epigenetic epidemiology.
abstract: Epigenetic modification can mediate environmental influences on gene expression and can modulate the disease risk associated with genetic variation. Epigenetic analysis therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. The spatial and temporal variance in epigenetic profile is of particular relevance for developmental epidemiology and the study of aging, including the variable age at onset for many common diseases. This review serves as a general introduction to the topic by describing epigenetic mechanisms, with a focus on DNA methylation; genetic and environmental factors that influence DNA methylation; epigenetic influences on development, aging, and disease; and current methodology for measuring epigenetic profile. Methodological considerations for epidemiologic studies that seek to include epigenetic analysis are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre & Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saffery
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors