Developmental origins of health and disease concept: The environment in the first 1000 days of life and its association with noncommunicable diseases

Abstract

In recent decades, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the leading cause of global mortality and increased in Latin America. The contribution of the resources from development science, epigenetics, neurosciences, environmental sciences, epidemiology and research has generated evidence of the origin of NCDs since fetal programming. The health and disease outcomes result from a dynamic trajectory where protective factors are added for a healthy life or risk factors for diseases of the individual and the communities. Developmental Origins of Health and Disease concept resizes the role of the maternal and child health team and should guide public policies by prioritizing the first 1000 days of life for healthy development and NCDs prevention. We present an update on principal adverse environmental conditions that may alter development programming and predispose NCDs in life course.