Did the impact of the economic crisis had a direct impact on our body? This is the question at the core of Hugef Foundation studies within Lifepath. Experts from the Foundation will analyse blood samples from large population groups in order to see if changes in DNA methylation – an epigenetic marker – has occurred following the onset of the recent crisis. The Foundation will also take care of gathering and harmonizing data from different studies within the project, to make them available for further comparison.

Socio-economic conditions are often ignored as a major determinant of health but studies led by Silvia Stringhini, from the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne, show that they are the third risk factor – after smoking and sedentary lifestyle – to determine people’s mortality. Socio-economic status should thus considered as a main target for health prevention policies.

Children’s height is mainly determined by genetic factors but the environment in which we born and grow up can play an important role too. Knowing that height is correlated with health in later life, Lifepath partners from the Trinity College in Dublin wondered if there are differences in children’s height related to their socio-economic background.

Everyday life can bring several potential source of stress, and this is particularly true in case of social and economic distress. Socio-economic circumstances can be able to interact with our organisms and trigger the inflammatory response against stress. However, a chronic exposition to stressful conditions may lead to several kind of diseases, thus decreasing the quality of our life in later years.

Is there a relationship between the level of school education and the length and quality of life? The answer is yes, according to studies carried out by Johan Mackenbach and his colleages at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. People with a higher level of education seems to live longer and to experience a healthier aging processes than those with a low level of education.