The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Implications for Paleopathology

Abstract

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis evolved from earlier research by Barker and colleagues in the 1980s, which demonstrated a link between early life adversity and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. Since then, a growing body of work has emphasized the significance of the first 1,000 days of life (from conception) for disease risk in later life, including stroke, diabetes, CVD, osteoporosis, and mental health. This period is conceptualized as a particularly sensitive window of developmental plasticity, with exposure to environmental stimuli during this time resulting in potentially adverse adjustments to an individual’s phenotypic trajectory. The integration of DOHaD within bioarchaeological and paleopathological analysis has heralded a conceptual shift away from an exclusive emphasis on proximate causes of disease and toward a greater consideration of life histories and intergenerational factors. This chapter summarizes some of the key features and applications of DOHaD for bioarchaeology, including theoretical debates, and implications of this approach for our understanding of body/society interactions in the past.