Life Course Prespective Lecture symposium

Life course

1. Life Course Juanito n. Zuasula, jr, md

2. Objectives: Describe the different models of Causality Describe briefly the evolution of the Life Course Perspective Discuss briefly the different aspects of the Life Course Theory and Life Course Approach to Health Describe how Life Course Approach impacts medicine and our life in general

3. The Epidemiologic Triangle ENVIRONMENT AGENT HOST DISEASE

4. The Epidemiologic Triangle ENVIRONMENT AGENT HOST TIME

5. Rothman’s Causality Pies

6. The Life Course Theory Socio-historical and Geographical Location Timing of Lives Heterogeneity or variability Linked lives and social ties Human agency and personal control How the past shapes the future

7. The Life Course Approach to Health Used to study the physical and social hazards during gestation , childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and midlife that affect chronic disease risk and health outcomes in later life. It aims to identify the underlying biological, behavioral and psychosocial processes that operate across the life span ( Kuh and Ben- Shlomo , 1997).

8. The Fetal Origins Hypothesis’ (Programming)

9. CRITICAL PERIODS of growth and development, when environmental exposures do more damage to health and long-term health potential than they would at other times.

10. SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES in childhood and adolescence Social and cognitive skills, habits, coping strategies, attitudes and values are more easily acquired than at later ages. These abilities and skills strongly influence life course trajectories with implications for health in later life.

11. LIFE COURSE APPROACH IN HEALTH considers the long term health consequences of biological and social experiences in early and mid adulthood. These factors simply add additional risk or act interactively with early life biological and social factors, to attenuate or exacerbate long term risks to health.

12. Cumulative effects on later health may occur not only across an individual’s life but also across generations ( Lumey 1998; Davey Smith 2000). Many animal studies have highlighted the perpetuation of both size at birth and subsequent growth across generations; this may have important nutritional implications especially in the developing world. Further research will assist assessment of how and when to optimally target interventions to cost-effectively improve health.

13. Is this Karma?

14. We are what they were… What we were before and are… Shapes who we want to be… In Summary….

15. Thank you… Namaste!