Familial Aggregation of Blood Pressure in Childhood Is Hereditary

Families with at least one adopted child constitute a useful epidemiological unit in which to study the relative contribution of genes and environment to the familial clustering of blood pressure, already observed in natural children aged 2 to 14 by Zinner's group in Boston.2 Provided that adoption occurs shortly after birth, both adopted and natural children are exposed to the same household living conditions such as dietary salt and calories, exercise habits, and psychological atmosphere, to mention a few.