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Epigenetics
Understanding Epigenetics:  Can we change our own genes? 
epigenetics

Thanks to the rapidly advancing field of epigenetics, researchers are beginning to discover how we can favorably influence our genes.  Until recently, a person’s genetic characteristics were thought to be concrete from the moment of birth.  New research indicates that you don’t have to play the genetic hand that you’ve been dealt.  The future of mental health lies in epigenetics – the nutritionally modifiable aspect of our genes.


To explain:  Epigenetics involves the alteration in gene expression due to chemical factors in the womb and the influence of environmental factors throughout life.  Every cell in our bodies has the potential for expressing any of the 20,000+ genes in our DNA.  The production of gene proteins or “gene expression” can be switched on or off (gene silencing or “bookmarking”).  These epigenetic processes are more vulnerable to environmental factors such as radiation, temperature, dietary choices, toxic metals, viruses, stressful life events, etc., compared to genetic processes.  In some cases, gene expression errors can be transferred to future generations by a process called transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI).


By studying identical twins, researchers find evidence of environmental impact on gene expression.  For example, autism and bipolar disorder have been reported in one twin while the other twin remains unaffected.  How do we explain these differences given that the DNA is the same in these children?  Though they share the same womb, identical twins can experience different stresses during pregnancy and birth.  Exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy or early infancy may also affect autism risk.


The science of epigenetics provides a road map for nutrient therapies that have potential for overcoming mental and behavioral disorders and eventual elimination of the need for psychiatric medications.  Drs. Mensah and Bowman believe that even the most severe inherited mental disorders will be reversible thanks to the latest research and advances in the epigenetic field.  Cutting-edge nutrient therapies have already resulted in thousands of reports of recovery in persons diagnosed with violent behavior, AD(H)D, autism, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.


Click here to watch William J. Walsh, PhD, of the Walsh Research Institute discuss epigenetics on Your Health TV Show.
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