An integrated approach to understanding the effects of exposome on neuroplasticity

Abstract

Anthropogenic factors are those that occur due to human activities. The exposome is proposed to complement the genome, wherein an individual’s exposure begins before birth. The range of exposures includes physical, chemical, dietary, lifestyle, biological, and occupational sources. Exposome has a positive or negative influence on neuroplasticity during different stages of life. A comprehensive study of the exposome is thus necessary to incorporate these factors and their influence on the individual, community, and the population as a whole. Exposomic research and global health present significant opportunities for interdisciplinary research. This review gives an overview of the exposome and its influence on neuroplasticity. It proposes methods to study the exposome on neuroplasticity across the lifespan of the individual. This is possible with the use of self-reported data, large-scale cohort formation, physiological sensors, neuroimaging, omics, molecular biology, and systems approaches. These approaches aim to provide a holistic understanding of an individual's neurological well-being and its implications for the population at large. This will also enable the designing of novel preventive and treatment strategies for managing neurological disorders.