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Physiological Imprinting

Meaning

Physiological Imprinting is a scientific concept describing the process by which environmental, nutritional, or hormonal exposures during critical, sensitive periods of early development permanently program the functional capacity and long-term setpoints of an organism’s major physiological systems. This indelible programming creates a lasting “memory” in the body, which dictates the individual’s future metabolic, endocrine, and immune responses. The imprinting process fundamentally links the conditions of early life to the risk of chronic disease in adulthood. It is a central mechanism in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm.