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Fan G, Liu Q, Bi J, Fang Q, Luo F, Huang X, Li H, Guo W, Liu B, Yan L, Wang Y, Song L. Reproductive factors and biological aging: the association with all-cause and cause-specific premature mortality. Hum Reprod 2025; 40:148-156. [PMID: 39516182 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deae250] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are reproductive factors associated with biological aging, and does biological aging mediate the associations of reproductive factors with premature mortality? SUMMARY ANSWER Multiple reproductive factors are related to phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAge-Accel), while adherence to a healthy lifestyle mitigates these harmful effects; PhenoAge-Accel mediated the associations between reproductive factors and premature mortality. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Accelerated aging is a key contributor to mortality, but knowledge about the effect of reproductive factors on aging is limited. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This prospective cohort study included 223 729 women aged 40-69 years from the UK biobank in 2006-2010 and followed up until 12 November 2021. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Reproductive factors were collected through a touchscreen questionnaire. Biological aging was assessed through PhenoAge-Accel. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the relationships of reproductive factors with PhenoAge-Accel and estimate the modified effect of a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, we applied mediation analysis to explore the mediating role of PhenoAge-Accel in the associations between reproductive factors and premature mortality. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Early menarche (<12 years vs 13 years, β: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.44), late menarche (≥15 years vs 13 years, β: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.25), early menopause (<45 years vs 50-51 years, β: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.72), short reproductive lifespan (<30 years vs 35-39 years, β: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.92), nulliparity (vs two live births, β: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.43), high parity (≥4 vs 2 live births, β: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.59), early age at first live birth (<20 years vs 25-29 years, β: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.75), and stillbirth (β: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.65) were associated with increased PhenoAge-Accel. Furthermore, PhenoAge-Accel mediated 6.0%-29.7% of the associations between reproductive factors and premature mortality. Women with an unfavorable lifestyle and reproductive risk factors had the highest PhenoAge-Accel compared to those with a favorable lifestyle and without reproductive risk factors. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The participants in the UK Biobank were predominantly of White ethnicity; thus, caution is warranted when generalizing these findings to other ethnic groups. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings reveal the harmful effects of multiple reproductive factors on biological aging and the mediating role of biological aging in the associations between reproductive factors and premature mortality. They highlight the significance of adhering to a healthy lifestyle to slow biological aging as a potential way to reduce premature mortality among women with reproductive risk factors. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82003479, 82073660, 72204215), Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2023AFB663), Zhejiang Province Public Welfare Technology Application Research Project (GF22H269155), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M662646, 2020T130220). The authors have no competing interests to disclose. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaojie Fan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianing Bi
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Fang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Fei Luo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaofeng Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Heng Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenwen Guo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Binghai Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lianyan Yan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulu Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Hamlat EJ, Neilands TB, Laraia B, Zhang J, Lu AT, Lin J, Horvath S, Epel ES. Early life adversity predicts an accelerated cellular aging phenotype through early timing of puberty. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7720-7728. [PMID: 37325994 PMCID: PMC11131158 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study examined if early adversity was associated with accelerated biological aging, and if effects were mediated by the timing of puberty. METHODS In early mid-life, 187 Black and 198 White (Mage = 39.4, s.d.age = 1.2) women reported on early abuse and age at first menstruation (menarche). Women provided saliva and blood to assess epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein. Using structural equation modeling, we created a latent variable of biological aging using epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein as indicators, and a latent variable of early abuse using indicators of abuse/threat events before age 13, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. We estimated the indirect effects of early abuse and of race on accelerated aging through age at menarche. Race was used as a proxy for adversity in the form of systemic racism. RESULTS There was an indirect effect of early adversity on accelerated aging through age at menarche (b = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03-0.44), in that women who experienced more adversity were younger at menarche, which was associated with greater accelerated aging. There was also an indirect effect of race on accelerated aging through age at menarche (b = 0.25, 95% CI 0.04-0.52), in that Black women were younger at menarche, which led to greater accelerated aging. CONCLUSIONS Early abuse and being Black in the USA may both induce a phenotype of accelerated aging. Early adversity may begin to accelerate aging during childhood, in the form of early pubertal timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa J. Hamlat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Torsten B. Neilands
- Division of Prevention Science | Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Barbara Laraia
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Zhang
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ake T. Lu
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Fan G, Liu Q, Bi J, Qin X, Fang Q, Wang Y, Song L. Association between female-specific reproductive factors and leukocyte telomere length. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2239-2246. [PMID: 37671590 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead176] [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] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the associations between female-specific reproductive factors and leukocyte telomere length (LTL)? SUMMARY ANSWER Early menarche, early menopause, short reproductive lifespan, early age at first birth, multiparity, and use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were associated with shorter LTL. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Reproductive factors have been associated with age-related diseases, but their associations with cellular aging, as indicated by LTL, are unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This population-based study included 224 965 women aged 40-69 years from the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Women aged 40-69 were included. Female-specific reproductive factors, including age at menarche, age at natural menopause, reproductive lifespan, number of live births, age at first live birth, history of stillbirth, history of miscarriage, and use of OCs and HRT were self-reported. LTL was measured using a validated polymerase chain reaction method. Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline models were applied to explore the association between each reproductive factor and LTL. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE After adjustment for potential confounders, early menarche (<12 years; percent change, per unit change in LTL Z score: -1.29%, 95% CI: -2.32%, -0.26%), early menopause (<45 years; percent change: -7.18%, 95% CI: -8.87%, -5.45%), short reproductive lifespan (<30 years; percent change: -6.10%, 95% CI: -8.14%, -4.01%), multiparity (percent change: -3.38%, 95% CI: -4.38%, -2.37%), early age at first live birth (<20 years; percent change: -4.46%, 95% CI: -6.00%, -2.90%), and use of OCs (percent change: -1.10%, 95% CI: -2.18%, -0.02%) and HRT (percent change: -3.72%, 95% CI: -4.63%, -2.80%) were all significantly associated with shorter LTL. However, no significant association was found for history of miscarriage and stillbirth. We observed nonlinear relationships of age at menarche, age at natural menopause, reproductive lifespan, and age at first live birth with LTL (Pnonlinear < 0.05). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Considering that the participants were predominantly of European ethnicity, the findings may not be generalizable to women of other ethnic backgrounds. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings suggest that early menarche, early menopause, short reproductive lifespan, early age at first birth, multiparity, and use of OCs and HRT were associated with shorter LTL, which has been linked to various chronic diseases. The accelerated shortening of telomeres may potentially contribute to the development of chronic diseases related to reproductive factors. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82003479, 82073660), Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2023AFB663), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M662646, 2020T130220). The authors have no competing interests to disclose. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaojie Fan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianing Bi
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiya Qin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Fang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulu Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Klimek M, Entringer S, Matras A, Blukacz M, Nenko I, Galbarczyk A, Jasienska G. Early-life adversities and later-life reproductive patterns in women with fully traced reproductive history. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9328. [PMID: 37291139 PMCID: PMC10250381 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36226-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most crucial determinants of early-life development is the experience of childhood adversities. However, limited evidence is available for how these experiences shape later-life reproductive outcomes in women. Here we test the association between early-life adversities and reproductive parameters in women. Post-reproductive women (N = 105; mean age = 59.7; SD = 10.09) were recruited at the Mogielica Human Ecology Study Site in Poland within a traditional population with a low prevalence of birth control usage and fully traced reproductive histories. Reproductive parameters, as well as exposure to early-life abuse and neglect, were assessed using questionnaires. Childhood adversity was associated negatively with age at menarche (p = 0.009). Analyses on specific subtypes revealed that compared to women who did not experience any kind of early-life adversities in childhood, those who were exposed to emotional (p = 0.007) and physical (p = 0.023) neglect had an earlier age at menarche, those who experienced emotional abuse reported an earlier age at first birth (p = 0.035), and those who were exposed to physical abuse gave birth to fewer number of sons (p = 0.010). Our results suggest that women exposed to childhood adversities experience earlier physiological reproductive readiness and timing of the first birth, but their overall biological condition might be impaired as they bear fewer sons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Klimek
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Agnieszka Matras
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mateusz Blukacz
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Ilona Nenko
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Galbarczyk
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grazyna Jasienska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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Francis M, Lindrose A, O'Connell S, Tristano RI, McGarvey C, Drury S. The interaction of socioeconomic stress and race on telomere length in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. SSM Popul Health 2023; 22:101380. [PMID: 37065841 PMCID: PMC10102414 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale Proposed mechanisms relating early life exposures to poor health suggest that biologic indicators of risk are observable in childhood. Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker of aging, psychosocial stress, and a range of environmental exposures. In adults, exposure to early life adversity, including low socioeconomic status (SES), is predictive of shorter TL. However, results in pediatric populations have been mixed. Defining the true relation between TL and SES in childhood is expected to enhance the understanding of the biological pathways through which socioeconomic factors influence health across the life span. Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically review and quantitatively assess the published literature to better understand how SES, race, and TL are related in pediatric populations. Methods Studies in the United States in any pediatric population with any measure of SES were included and identified through the following electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Medline, Socindex, CINAHL, and Psychinfo. Analysis utilized a multi-level random-effects meta-analysis accounting for multiple effect sizes within a study. Results Thirty-two studies were included with a total of 78 effect sizes that were categorized into income-based, education-based, and composite indicators. Only three studies directly tested the relation between SES and TL as the primary study aim. In the full model, there was a significant relation between SES and TL (r = 0.0220 p = 0.0286). Analysis by type of SES categorization identified a significant moderating effect of income on TL (r = 0.0480, 95% CI: 0.0155 to 0.0802, p = 0.0045) but no significant effect for education or composite SES. Conclusions There is an overall association between SES and TL that is predominately due to the association with income-based SES measures implicating income disparities as a key target for efforts to address health inequity across the life span. Identification of associations between family income and biological changes in children that predict life-span health risk provides key data to support public health policies addressing economic inequality in families and presents a unique opportunity to assess the effect of prevention efforts at the biologic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariza Francis
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute and School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Alyssa Lindrose
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Samantha O'Connell
- Office of Academic Affairs and Provost, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Renee I. Tristano
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Cecile McGarvey
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute and School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Stacy Drury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute and School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
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Bolhuis E, Belsky J, Frankenhuis WE, Shalev I, Hastings WJ, Tollenaar MS, O’Donnell KJ, McGill MG, Pokhvisneva I, Lin DT, MacIsaac JL, Kobor MS, de Weerth C, Beijers R. Attachment insecurity and the biological embedding of reproductive strategies: Investigating the role of cellular aging. Biol Psychol 2022; 175:108446. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Zhang X, Wolff MS, Shen J, Parada H, Santella RM, Neugut AI, Chen J, Teitelbaum SL. Phthalates and Phenols, Leukocyte Telomere Length, and Breast Cancer Risk and Mortality in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021; 31:117-123. [PMID: 34697054 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-21-0830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phthalates and phenols from the environment have been inconsistently associated with breast cancer risk or mortality. Studies on the potential modifying role of leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a biomarker of biological aging, on these associations are lacking. METHODS We included 1,268 women from the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project with available data on phthalate and phenol analytes and LTL measurements. Twenty-two phthalate and phenol analytes were measured in spot urines and LTL was measured in blood. The modifying effect of LTL on the associations of individual analyte with breast cancer risk as well as mortalities was estimated using interaction terms between LTL and urinary concentrations of analyte in logistic regression and Cox regression models, respectively. ORs, HRs, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for a one-unit (ln μg/g creatinine) increase of urinary phthalate/phenol level were estimated at 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of LTL. RESULTS LTL significantly (P < 0.05) modified associations between 11 of 22 of urinary phthalate/phenols analytes and breast cancer risk. An inverse association between phthalate/phenols analytes and breast cancer risk at shorter LTL and a positive association at longer LTL was generally suggested. No modifying effect was found for LTL on the association between these phthalate/phenols analytes and breast cancer mortalities. CONCLUSIONS LTL may modify the associations between phthalate and phenol exposures and breast cancer risk. IMPACT This study is the first study that determined the modifying effect of biological aging in the association between environmental chemical exposure and breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Zhang
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Mary S Wolff
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Jing Shen
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Humberto Parada
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,University of California at San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, California
| | - Regina M Santella
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Alfred I Neugut
- Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Susan L Teitelbaum
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy S Drury
- Children's Hospital New Orleans, Tulane Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Laboratory, Tulane University, New Orleans
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Gaydosh L, Mitchell C, Notterman D, Schneper L, Brooks-Gunn J, Wagner B, Koss K, McLanahan S. Demographic and developmental patterns in telomere length across adolescence. BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2020; 66:208-219. [PMID: 34597213 PMCID: PMC8702463 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2021.1983758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length is often used in studies of adults as a biomarker of cellular aging and an indicator of stress exposure. However, we know little about how telomeres change over time, particularly over the course of the important developmental period of adolescence. We use data on telomere length collected at two points in time spanning adolescence (Years 9 and 15) from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine longitudinal patterns (n = 1,654) in telomere length. We find a quantitatively small but significant average lengthening in telomere length across adolescence and little evidence of associations between telomere length and pubertal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Gaydosh
- Department of Sociology and Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research and Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
- Teachers College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brandon Wagner
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Department of Sociology and School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kalsea Koss
- Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Sara McLanahan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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