Epigenetics and noncommunicable diseases

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), primarily cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes, kill more than 38 million people each year, making them by far the leading cause of death in the world [1]. They develop due to an interplay of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors, but many NCDs are considered preventable because the most important risk factors, such as tobacco use, alcohol use and obesity, are modifiable [1]. Nevertheless, the prevalence of NCDs is increasing, and ongoing research hopes to inform effective strategies to predict, prevent and treat. This includes research into the role and utility of epigenetic mechanisms, either as an important determinant of NCDs (where causality is important) or as useful markers to help predict their occurrence and/or their consequences (where causality is not important).