Impact of the early-life environment on the epigenome and behavioral development

Abstract

The environment in which we live, and especially the early-life environment, regulates our behavioral development. Adversity during early life is strongly associated with problems in behavioral regulation and psychopathology in adulthood. Until recently, the mechanisms responsible for behavioral changes induced by early-life adversity were not clear. However, recent evidence suggests that early-life environment induces behavioral changes through epigenetic mechanisms controlling the expression of genes involved in the regulation of behavior. Thus, the epigenome mediates the effects of environmental variability on behavioral, physiological, and pathological responses increasing vulnerability toward suicidal behaviors. Numerous findings in animals and humans support this view. This chapter reviews the evidence suggesting that epigenetic changes are induced by the early environment and impact the regulation of gene expression in the brain increasing the risk for suicidal behaviors.