Neurocognitive and psychic deficits in different stages of life - ISS (EN)

Exposure to pre and post-natal adverse environments can alter neurodevelopmental trajectories, increasing the risk for psychiatric disorders that can manifest early (from birth to adolescence) or later during adult life or aging, reducing life expectancy and quality of life.

The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) investigates the early biological determinants of health and disease with particular focus on both genetic and epigenetic risk factors, i.e. associated with the direct effects of the environment on the genome. These studies make use of a multidisciplinary approach. Pre-clinical (animal models), clinical (population cohorts followed over time) and epidemiological studies are strategically combined to identify early biomarkers and new intervention strategies, also targeting healthy lifestyles.