International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
The womb as the cradle of longevity: Perinatal origins of biological aging
Abstract The perinatal period is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of biological aging trajectories and disease susceptibility across the lifespan. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence linking intrauterine exposures to adult health outcomes across three biological dimensions: fetal programming, maternal influences, and placental mediation. Evidence from the Dutch Hunger Winter suggests that the timing of gestational exposure—not birth weight alone—might govern programming outcomes. M …