Epigenetics is a study of heritable phenotypic changes or gene expression in cells that are caused by mechanisms other than DNA sequence (Grossniklaus, Kelly, Ferguson-Smith, Pembrey, & Lindquist, 2013). Epigenetic changes may be ‘stored’ in a number of cells and may be inherited by future generations. Basically, epigenetics studies how cells interpret information from genes and the mechanisms that control that interpretation. It is known that epigenetic changes depend on a variety of lifestyle factors that can trigger expressions of certain genes thereby affecting one’s health.
Having interviewed my family and filled out the family history document, I was able to identify certain risks for my personal health. Heart issues and blood pressure appear to be the first concerns of which I need to be mindful. Both of my parents in their 50s have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which may be partly explained by their lifestyle choices but, nonetheless, pose a threat to my health and wellbeing through epigenetic mechanisms. Another key takeaway is the eyesight problems that the interview with my parents, grandparents, and other relatives releveled. Farsightedness is the condition they all started to experience closer to the age of 40 or 50. Since this issue was found in almost all people I interviewed, hyperopia is the condition for which I am the most at risk.
According to He, Li, Chan, and Hinton (2013), a variety of ocular diseases and conditions have underlying epigenetic mechanisms. Pathogenesis of various eye conditions is believed to be the emerging field of study in conjunction with the increasing evidence in favor of epigenetics’ omnipresence. The researchers state that epigenetics are able to assist in the treatment and early identification of eye problems. As such, the dynamic changes in chromatin changes create a context for various gene expressions. In particular, DNA methylation is reported to be catalyzed by methyltransferases (He et al., 2013). Extensive experimental data from both human and animal trials confirm that a variety of diseases including retinoblastoma, melanoma, amblyopia, cataract, and other issues are connected with gene expression.
Epigenesis and My Family History
It appears that the lifestyle of relatives and family members has a significant influence on their future generations. Not only poor choices in diet, sleep, exercising, and other behaviors may affect the health and wellbeing of an individual but also create a basis for negative consequences in his or her children and grandchildren’s health. According to the research by He et al. (2013), certain consequences of lifestyle choices, post-operation issues, infections, and other health problems may reside in the cellular memory and reappear as symptoms and diseases in a future generation through gene expression. Similar conditions, however, are often necessary to trigger the reaction.
In light of my family history, such choices may include the unhealthy reading habits of my grandparents that might have created the susceptibility to poor eyesight in my mother and father. It becomes increasingly important for my future children and me to adopt healthy practices and be aware of our family’s genetic history and aptitudes. As He et al. (2013) note the further research in epigenetics will bring humanity closer to finding genetic treatment methods that would be able to relieve people from such vile dispositions. Should such options become financially more available, our family needs to definitely try this approach. Now, it is in my power to safeguard my health and the health of my descendants from eye-related diseases and poor sight by increasing concern for practicing safe working, learning, and leisure practices that will positively affect eye health.
Living to 100 Questionnaire and Epigenetics
The questionnaire estimated that my life expectancy is about 81 years. The result was rather surprising considering the lack of sleep, and certain bad eating habits I mentioned. As for the recommendations, bone and joint diseases were identified as risk factors that shorten my lifespan by one year. This is a concern as my grandparents both have arthritis. Despite now my wellbeing is not affected by any symptoms of brittle bones disease and no medications were prescribed, I would have to take a proactive approach to eliminate the possibility of arthritis-related gene activation. Problems in the cardiovascular area were also mentioned as a concern. Both my parents and grandmother are affected by different heart-related issues, which again enables me to plan and develop prevention strategies (Mather, Kwok, Armstrong, & Sachdev, 2014). The fact that I rarely undergo examination for cancer and other diseases undermines my capacity to identify and address other health issues that have a hereditary basis.
Being mindful about epigenetic mechanisms and family history is paramount for maintaining health in the present and future (Szic, Declerck, Vidaković, & Berghe, 2015). In addition, periodical testing and evaluation of health conditions may underline aspects in which personal behavioral intervention may be lacking, and medical attention is in order. This test allowed me to confirm the fact that the issues that my relatives have may reappear in me. Therefore, I need to take precautions.
Improving Health and Longevity
My family history analysis revealed that primary concerns are blood pressure, cholesterol, heart diseases, and joint issues such as arthritis (see figure below). What may be seen as typical health issues of older adults and those close to seniority, in light of epigenetics become problems that need addressing through behavioral and medicational interventions on the inter-generational scale? This analysis identifies possible risk areas of which I need to be extremely careful. The “Living to 100” questionnaire allowed me to further the understanding of my hereditary risks and confirm dangerous tendencies.
Suggestions to improve my potential longevity may include regular health examinations and behavioral interventions such as non-sedentary activities. In addition, regular blood sugar level and blood pressure monitoring could help identify unhealthy trends. Small but regular doses of calcium and aspirin could also partly address my hereditary potential to develop arthritis, osteoporosis, prevent heart attacks, and other heart-related diseases. The understanding of epigenetics enables me to place more emphasis on eliminating unhealthy practices that my relatives have. It also teaches me to develop healthy ones in order to prevent my children from having the same issues at an older age.
References
Family health history worksheet. (2011). Web.
Grossniklaus, U., Kelly, W. G., Ferguson-Smith, A. C., Pembrey, M., & Lindquist, S. (2013). Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: How important is it? Nature Reviews Genetics, 14(3), 228.
He, S., Li, X., Chan, N., & Hinton, D. R. (2013). Epigenetic mechanisms in ocular disease. Molecular vision, 19, 665.
Mather, K. A., Kwok, J. B., Armstrong, N., & Sachdev, P. S. (2014). The role of epigenetics in cognitive ageing. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(11), 1162-1171.
Szic, K. S., Declerck, K., Vidaković, M., & Berghe, W. V. (2015). From inflammaging to healthy aging by dietary lifestyle choices: Is epigenetics the key to personalized nutrition? Clinical epigenetics, 7(1), 33.