Biology and Genetic Endowment

The basic biology and organic make-up of the human body are a fundamental determinant of health. Genetic endowment provides an inherited predisposition to a wide range of individual responses that affect health status. Although socio-economic and environmental factors are important determinants of overall health, in some circumstances genetic endowment appears to predispose certain individuals to particular diseases or health problems.

The Evidence

Studies in neurobiology have confirmed that when optimal conditions for a child's development are provided in the investment phase (between conception and age five), the brain develops in a way that has positive outcomes for a lifetime.