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Sullivan ADW, Merrill SM, Konwar C, Coccia M, Rivera L, MacIsaac JL, Lieberman AF, Kobor MS, Bush NR. Intervening After Trauma: Child-Parent Psychotherapy Treatment Is Associated With Lower Pediatric Epigenetic Age Acceleration. Psychol Sci 2024:9567976241260247. [PMID: 39141017 DOI: 10.1177/09567976241260247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity increases the risk of health problems. Interventions supporting protective and responsive caregiving offer a promising approach to attenuating adversity-induced changes in stress-sensitive biomarkers. This study tested whether participation in an evidence-based dyadic psychosocial intervention, child-parent psychotherapy (CPP), was related to lower epigenetic age acceleration, a trauma-sensitive biomarker of accelerated biological aging that is associated with later health impairment, in a sample of children with trauma histories. Within this quasi-experimental, repeated-measures study, we examined epigenetic age acceleration at baseline and postintervention in a low-income sample of children receiving CPP treatment (n = 45; age range = 2-6 years; 76% Latino) compared with a weighted, propensity-matched community-comparison sample (n = 110; age range = 3-6 years; 40% Latino). Baseline epigenetic age acceleration was equivalent across groups. However, posttreatment, epigenetic age acceleration in the treatment group was lower than in the matched community sample. Findings highlight the potential for a dyadic psychosocial intervention to ameliorate accelerated biological aging in trauma-exposed children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra D W Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Sarah M Merrill
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
| | - Chaini Konwar
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
| | - Michael Coccia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Luisa Rivera
- Neukom Institute for Computational Science, Dartmouth College
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
| | - Alicia F Lieberman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Michael S Kobor
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
- Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, University of British Columbia
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
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Fuentes A, Espinoza UJ, Cobbs V. Follow the citations: Tracing pathways of "race as biology" assumptions in medical algorithms in eGFR and spirometry. Soc Sci Med 2024; 346:116737. [PMID: 38447335 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the concept of 'race' as a biological unit continues to persist in various scientific disciplines, notably in the field of medicine. This paper explores the persistence of 'race as biology' in medical research via examining select citational practices that have perpetuated this problematic concept. Citations serve as a cornerstone in scientific literature, signifying reliability and expert affirmation. By analyzing citation threads and historical patterns, we aim to shed light on the creation and perpetuation of false scientific truths and their impact on medical research, training, and practice. We focus on two prominent examples, eGFR and Spirometry, and trace key articles' citational histories, highlighting the flawed evidence in support of racial corrections in medical assessments. The eGFR equation incorporates 'race' as a factor based on the erroneous belief that Black individuals have higher muscle mass than white individuals. Our analysis reveals that key cited sources for this belief lack robust and well-developed datasets. Similarly, Spirometry measurements incorporate racial correction factors, relying on questionable evidence dating back to the Civil War era. Citations serve as a cornerstone in scientific literature, signifying reliability and expert affirmation. They play a crucial role in shaping theoretical positions and validating data and assumed knowledge. Evaluating citation threads and key articles consistently referenced over time can reveal how falsehoods and erroneous assertions are constructed and maintained in scientific fields. This study underscores the need for critical examination of citational practices in medical research and urges a shift toward a more cautious approach when citing sources that support 'race as biology.' The paper calls for a reevaluation of pedagogical approaches and assigned readings in medical education to prioritize an anti-racist perspective in future research endeavors.
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King DE, Lalwani PD, Mercado GP, Dolan EL, Frierson JM, Meyer JN, Murphy SK. The use of race terms in epigenetics research: considerations moving forward. Front Genet 2024; 15:1348855. [PMID: 38356697 PMCID: PMC10864599 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1348855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of environmental epigenetics is uniquely suited to investigate biologic mechanisms that have the potential to link stressors to health disparities. However, it is common practice in basic epigenetic research to treat race as a covariable in large data analyses in a way that can perpetuate harmful biases without providing any biologic insight. In this article, we i) propose that epigenetic researchers open a dialogue about how and why race is employed in study designs and think critically about how this might perpetuate harmful biases; ii) call for interdisciplinary conversation and collaboration between epigeneticists and social scientists to promote the collection of more detailed social metrics, particularly institutional and structural metrics such as levels of discrimination that could improve our understanding of individual health outcomes; iii) encourage the development of standards and practices that promote full transparency about data collection methods, particularly with regard to race; and iv) encourage the field of epigenetics to continue to investigate how social structures contribute to biological health disparities, with a particular focus on the influence that structural racism may have in driving these health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon E. King
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Pooja D. Lalwani
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Gilberto Padilla Mercado
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Emma L. Dolan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Johnna M. Frierson
- IDEALS Office, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Joel N. Meyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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Coltell O, Asensio EM, Sorlí JV, Ortega-Azorín C, Fernández-Carrión R, Pascual EC, Barragán R, González JI, Estruch R, Alzate JF, Pérez-Fidalgo A, Portolés O, Ordovas JM, Corella D. Associations between the New DNA-Methylation-Based Telomere Length Estimator, the Mediterranean Diet and Genetics in a Spanish Population at High Cardiovascular Risk. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:2004. [PMID: 38001857 PMCID: PMC10669035 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12112004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological aging is a relevant risk factor for chronic diseases, and several indicators for measuring this factor have been proposed, with telomere length (TL) among the most studied. Oxidative stress may regulate telomere shortening, which is implicated in the increased risk. Using a novel estimator for TL, we examined whether adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), a highly antioxidant-rich dietary pattern, is associated with longer TL. We determined TL using DNA methylation algorithms (DNAmTL) in 414 subjects at high cardiovascular risk from Spain. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed by a validated score, and genetic variants in candidate genes and at the genome-wide level were analyzed. We observed several significant associations (p < 0.05) between DNAmTL and candidate genes (TERT, TERF2, RTEL1, and DCAF4), contributing to the validity of DNAmTL as a biomarker in this population. Higher adherence to the MedDiet was associated with lower odds of having a shorter TL in the whole sample (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.85-0.99; p = 0.049 after fully multivariate adjustment). Nevertheless, this association was stronger in women than in men. Likewise, in women, we observed a direct association between adherence to the MedDiet score and DNAmTL as a continuous variable (beta = 0.015; SE: 0.005; p = 0.003), indicating that a one-point increase in adherence was related to an average increase of 0.015 ± 0.005 kb in TL. Upon examination of specific dietary items within the global score, we found that fruits, fish, "sofrito", and whole grains exhibited the strongest associations in women. The novel score combining these items was significantly associated in the whole population. In the genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identified ten polymorphisms at the suggestive level of significance (p < 1 × 10-5) for DNAmTL (intergenics, in the IQSEC1, NCAPG2, and ABI3BP genes) and detected some gene-MedDiet modulations on DNAmTL. As this is the first study analyzing the DNAmTL estimator, genetics, and modulation by the MedDiet, more studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Coltell
- Department of Computer Languages and Systems, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
| | - Eva M. Asensio
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José V. Sorlí
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carolina Ortega-Azorín
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rebeca Fernández-Carrión
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Eva C. Pascual
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rocío Barragán
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José I. González
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ramon Estruch
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan F. Alzate
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica—CNSG, Sede de Investigación Universitaria—SIU, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Fidalgo
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Clinic Hospital of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-F.)
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Cancer (CIBERONC), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Olga Portolés
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jose M. Ordovas
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Clinic Hospital of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-F.)
- Nutrition and Genomics, JM-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Nutritional Control of the Epigenome Group, Precision Nutrition and Obesity Program, IMDEA Food, UAM + CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores Corella
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.A.); (C.O.-A.); (J.I.G.); (R.E.)
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Fransquet PD, Macdonald JA, Ryan J, Greenwood CJ, Olsson CA. Exploring perinatal biopsychosocial factors and epigenetic age in 1-year-old offspring. Epigenomics 2023; 15:927-939. [PMID: 37905426 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Little is known about the determinants of epigenetic aging in pediatric populations. Methods: Epigenetic age was estimated from 258 1-year-olds, using pediatric buccal epigenetic and Horvath clocks. We explored associations between epigenetic age and maternal indicators of mental and relational health, substance use and general physical health assessed during trimester three. Results: Higher anxiety and stress, BMI and higher parent-parent relationship quality were associated with pediatric buccal epigenetic clock differences. High blood pressure during pregnancy was associated with Horvath age acceleration. Third-trimester smoking and pre-pregnancy weight were associated with acceleration and deceleration respectively, and concordant across clocks. Conclusion: A broad range of maternal factors may shape epigenetic age in infancy; further research is needed to explore the possible effects on health and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Fransquet
- Deakin University, Centre for Social & Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacqui A Macdonald
- Deakin University, Centre for Social & Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Population Studies of Adolescents, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Christopher J Greenwood
- Deakin University, Centre for Social & Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Population Studies of Adolescents, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig A Olsson
- Deakin University, Centre for Social & Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Population Studies of Adolescents, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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