FOR EMBARGOED RELEASE
EMBARGOED: Genetics and social sciences explored in American Journal of Public Health supplement
EMBARGOED UNTIL August 8, 2013, 4 p.m. (EDT) Newswise — The American Journal of Public Health, for the first time, will explore the link between social sciences and genetics in its October supplemental issue, embargoed until Aug. 8. Through new research, editorials and commentaries, the issue highlights the impact of investigating this field in public health.
“This research direction has the promise of increasing our understanding of both why certain environments affect some people but not others and the functioning of specific genes in determining important health phenotypes,” explain Jason M. Fletcher, PhD and Dalton Conley, PhD, authors of one of the issue’s analytic essays about gene-environment interaction research.
Topics covered in the issue range from behavioral and social risks to research design to social environments and genetics. Specifically, papers address a social sciences and genetics approach to understanding adolescent development, drug use, mental health, sex and gender and many other topics.
Highlights from this American Journal of Public Health issue include:
• Chromosome component in children impacted by prenatal smoke exposure• Twins examined to investigate role of genetics in link between socio-economic status and depression
Chromosome component in children impacted by prenatal smoke exposureA new study from the American Journal of Public Health finds that prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke can impact parts of chromosomes in children. Researchers investigated telomere length, a repetitive DNA sequence located at the ends of chromosomes that stabilizes the chromosome. Telomeres are a part of chromosomes that have been identified as a biomarker of cellular aging. After reviewing results from more than 100 New Orleans children aged 4 to 14, researchers found that telomere length was shorter among children who were exposed to smoke during pregnancy. Short telomere length has been associated with negative health outcomes.
“Stress exposure, both environmental and psychosocial, during prenatal life may result in biological changes that alter developmental trajectories and may alter lifelong health trajectories. Identifying the earliest developmental time points for prevention and intervention is challenging but critical if we expect to improve health outcomes,” the study’s authors conclude.
[“Early Hits and Long-Term Consequences: Tracking the Lasting Impact of Prenatal Smoke Exposure on Telomere Length in Children.” Contact: Katherine P. Theall, PhD, Departmetn of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, La. [email protected]]. Twins examined to investigate role of genetics in link between socio-economic status and depressionA new study from the American Journal of Public Health used a large population-based sample of twins to examine why incidents of major depression are more common among those with lower socio-economic status. The study tested three potential hypotheses to explain the relationship: (1) social causation which predicts that lower socio-economic level leads to stress and adversity, which in turn increases risk of major depression; (2) social drift which predicts that those with major depression are less likely to transition out of, or more likely to transition into, lower socio-economic status; and (3) common cause which predicts that some shared risk factor, either genetic or environmental, could increase risk for both major depression and lower socio-economic status. Findings aligned with the social causation hypothesis, even after accounting for genetic influence. There was also modest support for an interaction between genetic propensity for depression and the social environment, such that the relationship between low socioeconomic status and development of depression was stronger for those with higher genetic risk.
“As we illustrated, twin samples offered a means to examine the joint action and interaction between genetic liability and the social position,” the study’s authors concluded.
[“Integrating Social Science and Behavioral Genetics: Testing the Origin of Socioeconomic Disparities in Depression Using a Genetically Informed Design.” Briana Mezuk, PhD, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va, [email protected]].
The American Journal of Public Health ® is the monthly journal of the American Public Health Association, the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA is a leading publisher of books and periodicals promoting sound scientific standards, action programs and public policy to enhance health. More information is available at www.apha.org.
Complimentary online access to the Journal is available to credentialed members of the media. Address inquiries to Kimberly Short at APHA, 202-777-2511, or via email, [email protected]. A single print issue of the Journal is available for $35 from the Journal’s Subscriptions department at www.ajph.org/subscriptions. If you are not a member of the press, a member of APHA or a subscriber, online single issue access is $30 and online single article access is $22 at www.ajph.org or for direct customer service, call 202-777-2516, or email [email protected].
To stay up-to-date on the latest in public health research, sign up for new content e-mail alerts at www.ajph.org/subscriptions/etoc.shtml?ck=nck.
###
RSS