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Environmental Programming

Meaning

Environmental Programming is the scientific concept that non-genetic factors encountered during critical developmental periods, spanning from gestation through early childhood, can permanently alter the structure, function, and regulatory pathways of an individual’s physiological systems, including the endocrine axis. These early-life exposures, such as maternal stress, nutritional status, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals, can effectively “program” the body’s long-term risk for metabolic, cardiovascular, and hormonal diseases. This mechanism highlights the profound, lasting impact of the early environment on adult health and longevity, often overriding genetic predispositions. It is a cornerstone of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm.