Epidemiology research and epigenetics: Translational epidemiology of schizophrenia

Abstract

Epigenetic processes can explain some of the epidemiological associations between environmental exposure and disease, particularly when the exposure occurs at a critical developmental stage. In this chapter, we present several epigenetic pathways associated with the risk for schizophrenia. We discuss nongenetic factors - such as paternal age, toxin exposure, and psychological stressors - which may influence human development by way of epigenetic mechanisms. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.