Biomarker epidemiology

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Biomarker epidemiology is a branch of epidemiology. A comparative newer advance in the field, biomarker epidemiology helps in trait analysis by identifying biomarkers in population based studies. [1] Biomarker epidemiology is undergoing rapid development and expansion and is becoming one of the most promising areas of environmental research. [2]

Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

A biomarker, or biological marker is a measurable indicator of some biological state or condition. Biomarkers are often measured and evaluated to examine normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers are used in many scientific fields.

Application

Biomarker epidemiology can be applied in several fields. One is genetic epidemiology, which conducts linkage analysis and family-based association studies, and is applied in gene discovery; molecular epidemiology, which researches to characterize gene-disease associations and gene-environment interactions using biomarkers, and is applied in gene characterization; and applied epidemiology/health services research, which studies to evaluate clinical validity and utility of genetic information in practice, and is applied in evaluation of health effects. [3]

Genetic epidemiology is the study of the role of genetic factors in determining health and disease in families and in populations, and the interplay of such genetic factors with environmental factors. Genetic epidemiology seeks to derive a statistical and quantitative analysis of how genetics work in large groups.

Molecular epidemiology is a branch of epidemiology and medical science that focuses on the contribution of potential genetic and environmental risk factors, identified at the molecular level, to the etiology, distribution and prevention of disease within families and across populations. This field has emerged from the integration of molecular biology into traditional epidemiological research. Molecular epidemiology improves our understanding of the pathogenesis of disease by identifying specific pathways, molecules and genes that influence the risk of developing disease. More broadly, it seeks to establish understanding of how the interactions between genetic traits and environmental exposures result in disease.

Sources

  1. Sarbadhikari, S. N. Depression and Dementia: Progress in Brain Research, Clinical Applications, and Future Trends.
  2. "Biomarkers in epidemiology". researchgate.net. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  3. Modern Epidemiology (Kenneth J. Rothman, Sander Greenland, Timothy L. Lash ed.).

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