Epigenetics and non communicable diseases

Non communicable diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancer) represent a major health problem worldwide, causing the death of about 40 millions  people each year. A specific concern is related to the young age of affected people, with about 40 millions children aging less than 5 years affected by obesity worldwide. This condition cannot be explained by classic genetic mechanisms, since it leads to a reduction of the reproductive fitness, in contrast with the Darwin hypothesis.  On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that environmental factors, mainly diet, are able to affect the function, but not the structure, of some human genes, leading to changes in their expression  able to affect human metabolism. Since this modifications can be transmitted to the offspring, the new generations can be more susceptible to develop a metabolic disease at a young age.This topic is the central dogma of Epigenetics, the field of studies investigating the relationship between environmental exposure and gene function. Epigenetic studies will allow in the next future to clarify the basis of the increase of non communicable diseases in human and identify the correct strategies to prevent this problem.