Section outline

  • Lecture: Multi-level etiologies of health in diverse populations, Part 3: Biological determinants, mediators and mechanisms

    One of the most active areas of health disparities research is understanding how social experiences get “under the skin” to influence health. As discussed in previous classes, behavioral factors and clinical care are important mechanisms, but study after study has shown that behaviors and medical care cannot fully explain the magnitude of social inequalities in health. In this class we will review key hypothesized mechanisms via which adverse social experiences change human physiology and have enduring effects on long term health outcomes.  Leading hypotheses include the role of epigenetic changes; dysregulation of stress responses via hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis alterations; and physiologic triggers of behavioral patterns. We will discuss how these biological mechanisms directly relate to lifecourse models for the determinants of adult health. We will also discuss controversial perspectives on the role of genetic differences in creating social and racial inequalities in health.

    Faculty:  Kaja LeWinn

    Location (Access restricted to registered students): Zoom URL

    • Session Slides:

    • Slides Week 4 File

    • Session Audio/Video Recording (Access restricted to registered students):

    • Watch -Live Lecture Media Resource
      Not available unless: You belong to Registered Students Only

    • Required Reading:

    • Kuzawa et al-2009-American Journal of Human Biology File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02
    • An overview of epigenetics and its relationship to disparities in health outcomes by race
    • Forrester Stress File
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    • A review of the relationship between allostatic load and racial/ethnic disparities
    • McCrory SEP File
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    • This paper uses empiric methods to investigate the association of two proposed mechanisms (allostatic load and the epigenetic clock) for how socio-economic position becomes embedded in biology to produce poor health.

    • Optional Reading:

    • MESA epigenetics File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02
    • An empiric study investigating the relationship between epigenetics and neighborhood.

    • Assignment:  

      Please post to the forum by 8:45am on the day of class

      Questions Related to Week 4 Readings:

      1. Write a paragraph describing to what extent do you think that gene by environment interactions can contribute to major disparities along racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, or geographic dimensions? Please consider this both in general and in respect to your particular area of interest. 

      2. Write a paragraph discussing implications and potential limitations of epigenetic mechanisms of disease for intergenerational effects on health disparities, as well as for interventions designed to address health disparities.