Transgenerational effects of early-life experiences on descendants’ height and life span. An explorative study using Texel Island (Netherlands) genealogies, 18th-21st centuries

Abstract

Early-life experiences can have lasting effects on health across multiple generations. The pathways of these transgenerational transmissions are difficult to explore, because of the complex interactions of social and biological factors involved. This study explores the potential role of one such pathway–inherited epigenetic modifications to gene expression–by controlling for shared environmental factors. It uses a database constructed from descendant genealogies of six lineages from Texel Island, The Netherlands. Heights and life spans of respectively 2761 and 3279 19-year old boys are related to the early-life experiences of themselves, parents and grandparents. Adversity in early-life is studied through trauma and food deprivation. Adversity has clear effects, especially on heights, but few of these effects were transmitted to children and grandchildren.