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The environment in which a person lives, their past experiences, society, and habits, as well as their set of genes, all play a crucial role in determining human health and personal traits. In this article, we present interesting facts about how the environment impacts human genes and intelligence.
Chronic stress reduces intellectual abilities
Scientists from Germany concluded that an unfavorable environment leading to constant stress can provoke changes in the human genome. Their 2018 study demonstrated that human genetic material has a tendency to adapt to environmental factors. This enables DNA to transmit information about which genes should be active or inactive, ultimately resulting in better organism functioning.
During the study, scientists analyzed IQ tests of 1500 teenagers with epigenetic modifications, with a particular focus on genes responsible for transmitting dopamine signals in the brain. These signals are crucial for the brain’s reward system, motivation, and concentration.
The scientists discovered that experiment participants living in chronically stressful conditions experienced a reduction in the transmission of these signals due to insufficient gene functioning.
Dr. Jacob Kaminski, the lead author of the study, observed that the results indicated a correlation between chronic stress caused by the environment and a decline in cognitive function. This is why experiment participants with insufficiently functioning genes responsible for dopamine signals performed poorly on the IQ test. The test results were also connected to variations in brain activity among participants residing in distinct environments.
Poor ecology reduces learning ability
Environmental factors such as air pollution and heavy metal accumulation often cause toxic poisoning, which adversely affects the expression of human genes. This expression is the process of translating the encoded information in DNA and RNA into proteins and polypeptides. When this process is disrupted, brain cells do not function properly, leading to negative changes in brain development and a decline in cognitive function.
In 2022, scientists in Iran conducted a study that demonstrated the irreversible impact of lead presence in the environment on children’s mental activity. They analyzed IQ test results of participants who were exposed to lead and a control group.
The study showed that children who interacted with heavy metals for at least 4.5 years had lower IQ test performance than those who did not have exposure to lead in the environment. The difference in test results was even more significant for those who were exposed to lead for a longer period of time. The study also revealed that exposure to toxic substances resulted in disrupted learning abilities and increased antisocial behavior.
Living conditions increase the risk of disease
The development of diseases can be influenced not only by genetic predisposition but also by environmental factors, as demonstrated by a twin study conducted in Denmark in 1999.
Scientists have determined that type II diabetes has a heritability of about 26%, and abnormal glucose tolerance is at 61%. However, having genes that predispose a person to the disease does not necessarily mean that they will develop it.
Living in an environment where healthy foods are available, having opportunities for exercise, and receiving timely medical examinations and assistance positively impact a person’s health, which reduces the risk of developing diabetes even with genetic risk factors.
Conversely, a person without genes that increase the risk of diabetes may still develop it if they cannot afford proper nutrition, physical activity, and qualified medical assistance.
Lack of sleep leads to cellular aging of the body
Environmental factors, which can affect a person’s habits and lifestyle, include the conditions in which they live. For instance, a rotating work schedule, specific illnesses, and having young children can lead to sleep deprivation.
In 2016, researchers in the USA conducted a study that found that sleep deprivation negatively impacts the human genome. They examined how a single night of sleep deprivation could harm the cells of elderly individuals at the cellular level and affect long-term health.
The study revealed that a lack of sleep increases the expression of a leukocyte gene, which is a response to DNA damage. This process leads to cellular aging and a higher risk of age-related diseases due to the accumulation of damage.
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