Health, Development and Epigenetic Characteristics of Institutionalized Children: A Preliminary Study based on a Small Cohort

To date, researcheshave show that a variety of diseases and developmental delays, overrepresented in institutionalized children, are associated with deprivation conditions of baby homes. The epigenome appears to be a molecular mediator that regulates the interaction between the environment and the phenotype. Our preliminary comparative study examined indicators of physical development, health status and epigenetic profiles of institutionalized children with typical and delayed development from two organizationally different baby homes. The results showed that delayed physical and cognitive development is accompanied by changes in the epigenomes of children.