What is epigenetics and can you influence your genes?

Epigenetics is about how genes are switched on or off without the DNA sequence itself changing. This happens through chemical 'flags' on the DNA that can silence a gene, through modifications to the protein spool around which DNA is wound, and through small pieces of genetic material that regulate genes. These changes are passed on during cell division, but never affect the DNA sequence itself^1,2.

When this regulation goes wrong, serious diseases can develop. In cancer, disrupted epigenetic patterns are a common feature that contributes to tumour growth. Auto-immune diseases have also been linked to them. Metabolic processes play an amplifying role: their by-products can switch epigenetic enzymes on or off, causing gene activity to go further off course^3,4.

A major advantage over true DNA mutations is that epigenetic changes are in principle reversible. Drugs that target epigenetic mechanisms already exist. In certain forms of lymphoma and pre-leukaemia, these agents show promising results. In lung cancer or colorectal cancer, the first positive signals are visible, but that research is still in its early stages^5,6.

The epigenome also simply changes with age: methylation patterns shift and DNA is packaged differently in the cell nucleus. These shifts are associated with tissue deterioration and a higher risk of age-related diseases. Researchers are looking for ways to 'rejuvenate' this, but that research is still largely in the mouse phase. Reliable applications for healthy people do not yet exist⁷.

Epigenetic differences have also been found in asthma between patients and cell types, linked to airway inflammation and remodelling. Whether these changes directly drive the course of the disease is not yet sufficiently clear².