中国P站

Abstract

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis posits that environmental exposures during critical windows of early development from preconception through infancy have lasting effects on health and disease risk across the lifespan. This concept, initially popularized through observations linking low birth weight to adult cardiovascular disease, has expanded to encompass a wide array of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mental health conditions. Emerging research underscores the role of epigenetic modifications, intrauterine nutrition, maternal stress, microbiome alterations, and environmental toxins in shaping the developmental trajectory of organ systems and physiological responses. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis represents a paradigm shift in biomedical science, suggesting that environmental factors during early development particularly during the fetal and perinatal period play a critical role in shaping an individual’s long-term health trajectory. This theory posits that suboptimal exposures in utero, such as poor maternal nutrition, stress, infections, or environmental toxins, can cause permanent changes in gene expression, organ development, and physiological function, predisposing individuals to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders later in life.