Learning & Education
During sleep, many of the systems of the body (i.e., nervous, endocrine, skeletal, muscular, and immune) are in a state of anabolism ("building up"), which promotes restoration and healing. With that said, the most pronounced physiological changes during sleep occur in the brain, which further underlines the role of sleep in cognition, mood, and memory [4].
Derived from the Greek term holos meaning whole or entire, the concept of a holobiont was initially defined by Dr. Lynn Margulis in her 1991 book, "Symbiosis as a Source of Evolutionary Innovation." As with most things, the definition has evolved considerably in the intervening years.
Our growth and maturation are controlled by specific gene sets that are choreographed events in conjunction with environmental cues, depending on the period of life at which they are triggered or suppressed. Any type of epigenetic factor that affects genes or gene expression networks during a person's life can lead to an imbalance in the regulatory process and may have a lasting impact [1].
In our previous article, we learned about a detailed overview of epigenetics. This article will discuss the three main epigenetic signatures (DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA), how they are regulated, and how their disruption causes diseases. For a more clinical approach, check out the Epigenetics Module of the Health Optimization and Practice (HOMe/HOPe) Essential Certification here.
Sleep allows our bodies to rest and recover, and our brains to process the information we've taken in during the day. But what happens inside our bodies when we sleep? It all starts with the hormones of sleep!
The 2023 Exposome Day webinar topic of discussion was “Women’s Health over 40: Menopause and Environmental Exposures.” The webinar was moderated by Dr. Sarah Evans, Assistant Professor at Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.