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Markon KE, Mann F, Freilich C, Cole S, Krueger RF. Associations between epigenetic age acceleration and longitudinal measures of psychosocioeconomic stress and status. Soc Sci Med 2024; 352:116990. [PMID: 38824837 PMCID: PMC11239272 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Relationships between epigenetic aging markers and psychosocial variables such as socioeconomic status and stress have been well-documented, but are often examined cross-sectionally or retrospectively, and have tended to focus on objective markers of SES or major life events. Here, we examined associations between psychosocial variables, including measures of socioeconomic status and social stress, and epigenetic aging markers in adulthood, using longitudinal data spanning three decades from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. The largest effects were observed for epigenetic markers of change in health, such as DunedinPACE and GrimAge, and for associations involving education, income, net assets, general social stress, inequality-related stress, and financial stress. Analyses of polygenic indices suggests that at least in the case of education, the link to epigenetic aging cannot be accounted for by common genetic variants.
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Krieger N, Testa C, Chen JT, Johnson N, Watkins SH, Suderman M, Simpkin AJ, Tilling K, Waterman PD, Coull BA, De Vivo I, Smith GD, Diez Roux AV, Relton C. Epigenetic Aging and Racialized, Economic, and Environmental Injustice: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2421832. [PMID: 39073820 PMCID: PMC11287398 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Epigenetic age acceleration is associated with exposure to social and economic adversity and may increase the risk of premature morbidity and mortality. However, no studies have included measures of structural racism, and few have compared estimates within or across the first and second generation of epigenetic clocks. Objective To determine whether epigenetic age acceleration is positively associated with exposures to diverse measures of racialized, economic, and environmental injustice measured at different levels and time periods. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used data from the My Body My Story (MBMS) study between August 8, 2008, and December 31, 2010, and examination 5 of the Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis Study (MESA) from April 1, 2010, to February 29, 2012. In the MBMS, DNA extraction was performed in 2021; linkage of structural measures to the MBMS and MESA, in 2022. US-born individuals were randomly selected from 4 community health centers in Boston, Massachusetts (MBMS), and 4 field sites in Baltimore, Maryland; Forsyth County, North Carolina; New York City, New York; and St Paul, Minnesota (MESA). Data were analyzed from November 13, 2021, to August 31, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures Ten epigenetic clocks (6 first-generation and 4 second-generation), computed using DNA methylation data (DNAm) from blood spots (MBMS) and purified monocytes (MESA). Results The US-born study population included 293 MBMS participants (109 men [37.2%], 184 women [62.8%]; mean [SD] age, 49.0 [8.0] years) with 224 Black non-Hispanic and 69 White non-Hispanic participants and 975 MESA participants (492 men [50.5%], 483 women [49.5%]; mean [SD] age, 70.0 [9.3] years) with 229 Black non-Hispanic, 191 Hispanic, and 555 White non-Hispanic participants. Of these, 140 (11.0%) exhibited accelerated aging for all 5 clocks whose estimates are interpretable on the age (years) scale. Among Black non-Hispanic MBMS participants, epigenetic age acceleration was associated with being born in a Jim Crow state by 0.14 (95% CI, 0.003-0.27) SDs and with birth state conservatism by 0.06 (95% CI, 0.01-0.12) SDs, pooling across all clocks. Low parental educational level was associated with epigenetic age acceleration, pooling across all clocks, for both Black non-Hispanic (0.24 [95% CI, 0.08-0.39] SDs) and White non-Hispanic (0.27 [95% CI, 0.03-0.51] SDs) MBMS participants. Adult impoverishment was positively associated with the pooled second-generation clocks among the MESA participants (Black non-Hispanic, 0.06 [95% CI, 0.01-0.12] SDs; Hispanic, 0.07 [95% CI, 0.01-0.14] SDs; White non-Hispanic, 0.05 [95% CI, 0.01-0.08] SDs). Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this cross-sectional study of MBMS and MESA participants suggest that epigenetic age acceleration was associated with racialized and economic injustice, potentially contributing to well-documented inequities in premature mortality. Future research should test the hypothesis that epigenetic accelerated aging may be one of the biological mechanisms underlying the well-documented elevated risk of premature morbidity and mortality among social groups subjected to racialized and economic injustice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Krieger
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christian Testa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jarvis T. Chen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nykesha Johnson
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sarah Holmes Watkins
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway
| | - Kate Tilling
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela D. Waterman
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brent A. Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George Davey Smith
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana V. Diez Roux
- Urban Health Collective and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Caroline Relton
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
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Harris KM, Levitt B, Gaydosh L, Martin C, Meyer JM, Mishra AA, Kelly AL, Aiello AE. Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors and Epigenetic Aging in US Young Adults: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2427889. [PMID: 39073811 PMCID: PMC11287395 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.27889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Epigenetic clocks represent molecular evidence of disease risk and aging processes and have been used to identify how social and lifestyle characteristics are associated with accelerated biological aging. However, most research is based on samples of older adults who already have measurable chronic disease. Objective To investigate whether and how sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics are associated with biological aging in a younger adult sample across a wide array of epigenetic clock measures. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was conducted using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a US representative cohort of adolescents in grades 7 to 12 in 1994 followed up for 25 years to 2018 over 5 interview waves. Participants who provided blood samples at wave V (2016-2018) were analyzed, with samples tested for DNA methylation (DNAm) in 2021 to 2024. Data were analyzed from February 2023 to May 2024. Exposure Sociodemographic (sex, race and ethnicity, immigrant status, socioeconomic status, and geographic location) and lifestyle (obesity status by body mass index [BMI] in categories of reference range or underweight [<25], overweight [25 to <30], obesity [30 to <40], and severe obesity [≥40]; exercise level; tobacco use; and alcohol use) characteristics were assessed. Main Outcome and Measure Biological aging assessed from banked blood DNAm using 16 epigenetic clocks. Results Data were analyzed from 4237 participants (mean [SD] age, 38.4 [2.0] years; percentage [SE], 51.3% [0.01] female and 48.7% [0.01] male; percentage [SE], 2.7% [<0.01] Asian or Pacific Islander, 16.7% [0.02] Black, 8.7% [0.01] Hispanic, and 71.0% [0.03] White). Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were more often associated with biological aging in clocks trained to estimate morbidity and mortality (eg, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE) than clocks trained to estimate chronological age (eg, Horvath). For example, the β for an annual income less than $25 000 vs $100 000 or more was 1.99 years (95% CI, 0.45 to 3.52 years) for PhenoAgeAA, 1.70 years (95% CI, 0.68 to 2.72 years) for GrimAgeAA, 0.33 SD (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.48 SD) for DunedinPACE, and -0.17 years (95% CI, -1.08 to 0.74 years) for Horvath1AA. Lower education, lower income, higher obesity levels, no exercise, and tobacco use were associated with faster biological aging across several clocks; associations with GrimAge were particularly robust (no college vs college or higher: β = 2.63 years; 95% CI, 1.67-3.58 years; lower vs higher annual income: <$25 000 vs ≥$100 000: β = 1.70 years; 95% CI, 0.68-2.72 years; severe obesity vs no obesity: β = 1.57 years; 95% CI, 0.51-2.63 years; no weekly exercise vs ≥5 bouts/week: β = 1.33 years; 95% CI, 0.67-1.99 years; current vs no smoking: β = 7.16 years; 95% CI, 6.25-8.07 years). Conclusions and Relevance This study found that important social and lifestyle factors were associated with biological aging in a nationally representative cohort of younger adults. These findings suggest that molecular processes underlying disease risk may be identified in adults entering midlife before disease is manifest and inform interventions aimed at reducing social inequalities in heathy aging and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Mullan Harris
- Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Brandt Levitt
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Lauren Gaydosh
- Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Chantel Martin
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Jess M Meyer
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City
| | | | - Audrey L Kelly
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
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Berg MT, Riley K, Lei MK, Simons RL. Incarceration Exposure, Biological Aging, and Depression Symptoms in an African American Sample of Older Adults. J Aging Health 2024:8982643241257065. [PMID: 38820596 DOI: 10.1177/08982643241257065] [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: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Objectives: The study draws upon perspectives on life-course stressors and health to assess whether lifetime incarceration exposure is a determinant of biological aging and self-reported depression. Methods: Using data from a sample of 460 African American participants (average age= 57) in the Family and Community Health Study, the study examined two epigenetic indices of biological aging, DunedinPoAm and GrimAge, as well as a self-reported measure of depression symptoms. Estimates were derived from multivariate regression models with adjustments for selection on observables and confounding factors. Results: Exposure to incarceration was a significant determinant of accelerated biological aging (GrimAge) and the pace of aging (DunedinPoAm) and depressive symptoms. Discussion: Among formerly incarcerated older adults, past experiences with the stressors of incarceration predict key biomarkers of physiological deterioration and depressive symptoms. Incarceration contributes to the mental and physical health burden of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Berg
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kendall Riley
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Man-Kit Lei
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Ronald L Simons
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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Nadiger N, Veed JK, Chinya Nataraj P, Mukhopadhyay A. DNA methylation and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:67. [PMID: 38755631 PMCID: PMC11100087 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01670-6] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE DNA methylation influences gene expression and function in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Mapping of T2DM-associated DNA methylation could aid early detection and/or therapeutic treatment options for diabetics. DESIGN A systematic literature search for associations between T2DM and DNA methylation was performed. Prospero registration ID: CRD42020140436. METHODS PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched (till October 19, 2023). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and New Castle Ottawa scale were used for reporting the selection and quality of the studies, respectively. RESULT Thirty-two articles were selected. Four of 130 differentially methylated genes in blood, adipose, liver or pancreatic islets (TXNIP, ABCG1, PPARGC1A, PTPRN2) were reported in > 1 study. TXNIP was hypomethylated in diabetic blood across ethnicities. Gene enrichment analysis of the differentially methylated genes highlighted relevant disease pathways (T2DM, type 1 diabetes and adipocytokine signaling). Three prospective studies reported association of methylation in IGFBP2, MSI2, FTO, TXNIP, SREBF1, PHOSPHO1, SOCS3 and ABCG1 in blood at baseline with incident T2DM/hyperglycemia. Sex-specific differential methylation was reported only for HOOK2 in visceral adipose tissue (female diabetics: hypermethylated, male diabetics: hypomethylated). Gene expression was inversely associated with methylation status in 8 studies, in genes including ABCG1 (blood), S100A4 (adipose tissue), PER2 (pancreatic islets), PDGFA (liver) and PPARGC1A (skeletal muscle). CONCLUSION This review summarizes available evidence for using DNA methylation patterns to unravel T2DM pathophysiology. Further validation studies in diverse populations will set the stage for utilizing this knowledge for identifying early diagnostic markers and novel druggable pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Nadiger
- Research Scholar, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences, Sarjapura Road, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560034, India
| | - Jyothisha Kana Veed
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences, Sarjapura Road, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560034, India
| | - Priyanka Chinya Nataraj
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences, Sarjapura Road, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560034, India
- Vedantu, Bangalore, India
| | - Arpita Mukhopadhyay
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's Medical College, St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences, Sarjapura Road, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560034, India.
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Weston WC, Bind MA, Cascio WE, Devlin RB, Diaz-Sanchez D, Ward-Caviness CK. Accelerated aging and altered subclinical response to ozone exposure in young, healthy adults. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2024; 10:dvae007. [PMID: 38846065 PMCID: PMC11155485 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Ozone exposure induces a myriad of adverse cardiopulmonary outcomes in humans. Although advanced age and chronic disease are factors that may exacerbate a person's negative response to ozone exposure, there are no molecular biomarkers of susceptibility. Here, we examine whether epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) is associated with responsiveness to short-term ozone exposure. Using data from a crossover-controlled exposure study (n = 17), we examined whether EAA, as measured in lung epithelial cells collected 24 h after clean air exposure, modifies the observed effect of ozone on autonomic function, cardiac electrophysiology, hemostasis, pulmonary function, and inflammation. EAA was assessed in lung epithelial cells extracted from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, using the pan-tissue aging clock. We used two analytic approaches: (i) median regression to estimate the association between EAA and the estimated risk difference for subclinical responses to ozone and (ii) a block randomization approach to estimate EAA's effect modification of subclinical responses. For both approaches, we calculated Fisher-exact P-values, allowing us to bypass large sample size assumptions. In median regression analyses, accelerated epigenetic age modified associations between ozone and heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) ([Formula: see text]= 0.12, P-value = 0.007) and between ozone and C-reactive protein ([Formula: see text] = -0.18, P = 0.069). During block randomization, the directions of association remained consistent for QTc and C-reactive protein; however, the P-values weakened. Block randomization also revealed that responsiveness of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) to ozone exposure was modified by accelerated epigenetic aging (PAI-1 difference between accelerated aging-defined block groups = -0.54, P-value = 0.039). In conclusion, EAA is a potential biomarker for individuals with increased susceptibility to ozone exposure even among young, healthy adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Weston
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
- US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Marie Abèle Bind
- Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wayne E Cascio
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Robert B Devlin
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - David Diaz-Sanchez
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Cavin K Ward-Caviness
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
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Ho KM. Associations between body mass index, biological age and frailty in the critically ill. Obes Res Clin Pract 2024; 18:189-194. [PMID: 38866643 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and outcomes in the acute care setting is controversial, with evidence suggesting that obesity is either protective - which is also called obesity paradox - or associated with worse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess whether BMI was related to frailty and biological age, and whether BMI remained predictive of mortality after adjusting for frailty and biological age. SUBJECTS Of the 2950 patients who had a biological age estimated on admission to the intensive care unit, 877 (30 %) also had BMI and frailty data available for further analysis in this retrospective cohort study. METHODS Biological age of each patient was estimated using the Levine PhenoAge model based on results of nine blood tests that were reflective of DNA methylation. Biological age in excess of chronological age was then indexed to the local study context by a linear regression to generate the residuals. The associations between BMI, clinical frailty scale, and the residuals were first analyzed using univariable analyses. Their associations with mortality were then assessed by multivariable analysis, including the use of a 3-knot restricted cubic spline function to allow non-linearity. RESULTS Both frailty (p = 0.003) and the residuals of the biological age (p = 0.001) were related to BMI in a U-shaped fashion. BMI was not related to hospital mortality, but both frailty (p = 0.015) and the residuals of biological age (OR per decade older than chronological age 1.50, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.04-2.18; p = 0.031) were predictive of mortality after adjusting for chronological age, diabetes mellitus and severity of acute illness. CONCLUSIONS BMI was significantly associated with both frailty and biological age in a U-shaped fashion but only the latter two were related to mortality. These results may, in part, explain why obesity paradox could be observed in some studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok M Ho
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; Fiona Stanley Hospital, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
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Mogavero MP, Salemi M, Lanza G, Rinaldi A, Marchese G, Ravo M, Salluzzo MG, Antoci A, DelRosso LM, Bruni O, Ferini-Strambi L, Ferri R. Unveiling the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome through transcriptome analysis. iScience 2024; 27:109568. [PMID: 38617564 PMCID: PMC11015462 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze signaling pathways associated with differentially expressed messenger RNAs in people with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Seventeen RLS patients and 18 controls were enrolled. Coding RNA expression profiling of 12,857 gene transcripts by next-generation sequencing was performed. Enrichment analysis by pathfindR tool was carried-out, with p-adjusted ≤0.001 and fold-change ≥2.5. Nine main different network groups were significantly dysregulated in RLS: infections, inflammation, immunology, neurodegeneration, cancer, neurotransmission and biological, blood and metabolic mechanisms. Genetic predisposition plays a key role in RLS and evidence indicates its inflammatory nature; the high involvement of mainly neurotropic viruses and the TORCH complex might trigger inflammatory/immune reactions in genetically predisposed subjects and activate a series of biological pathways-especially IL-17, receptor potential channels, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, NOD-like receptor, mitogen-activated protein kinase, p53, mitophagy, and ferroptosis-involved in neurotransmitter mechanisms, synaptic plasticity, axon guidance, neurodegeneration, carcinogenesis, and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P. Mogavero
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, Sleep Disorders Center, 20127 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Lanza
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
- University of Catania, Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Rinaldi
- Genomix4Life Srl, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health-CRGS, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Giovanna Marchese
- Genomix4Life Srl, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health-CRGS, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Maria Ravo
- Genomix4Life Srl, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health-CRGS, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Oliviero Bruni
- Sapienza University of Rome, Developmental and Social Psychology, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Ferini-Strambi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, Sleep Disorders Center, 20127 Milan, Italy
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Cortez BN, Pan H, Hinthorn S, Sun H, Neretti N, Gloyn AL, Aguayo-Mazzucato C. Heterogeneity of increased biological age in type 2 diabetes correlates with differential tissue DNA methylation, biological variables, and pharmacological treatments. GeroScience 2024; 46:2441-2461. [PMID: 37987887 PMCID: PMC10828255 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-01009-8] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological age (BA) closely depicts age-related changes at a cellular level. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) accelerates BA when calculated using clinical biomarkers, but there is a large spread in the magnitude of individuals' age acceleration in T2D suggesting additional factors contributing to BA. Additionally, it is unknown whether BA can be changed with treatment. We hypothesized that potential determinants of the heterogeneous BA distribution in T2D could be due to differential tissue aging as reflected at the DNA methylation (DNAm) level, or biological variables and their respective therapeutic treatments. Publicly available DNAm samples were obtained to calculate BA using the DNAm phenotypic age (DNAmPhenoAge) algorithm. DNAmPhenoAge showed age acceleration in T2D samples of whole blood, pancreatic islets, and liver, but not in adipose tissue or skeletal muscle. Analysis of genes associated with differentially methylated CpG sites found a significant correlation between eight individual CpG methylation sites and gene expression. Clinical biomarkers from participants in the NHANES 2017-2018 and ACCORD cohorts were used to calculate BA using the Klemera and Doubal (KDM) method. Cardiovascular and glycemic biomarkers associated with increased BA while intensive blood pressure and glycemic management reduced BA to CA levels, demonstrating that accelerated BA can be restored in the setting of T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana N Cortez
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Hui Pan
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Hinthorn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Han Sun
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nicola Neretti
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Anna L Gloyn
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Phyo AZZ, Fransquet PD, Wrigglesworth J, Woods RL, Espinoza SE, Ryan J. Sex differences in biological aging and the association with clinical measures in older adults. GeroScience 2024; 46:1775-1788. [PMID: 37747619 PMCID: PMC10828143 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00941-z] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Females live longer than males, and there are sex disparities in physical health and disease incidence. However, sex differences in biological aging have not been consistently reported and may differ depending on the measure used. This study aimed to determine the correlations between epigenetic age acceleration (AA), and other markers of biological aging, separately in males and females. We additionally explored the extent to which these AA measures differed according to socioeconomic characteristics, clinical markers, and diseases. Epigenetic clocks (HorvathAge, HannumAge, PhenoAge, GrimAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE) were estimated in blood from 560 relatively healthy Australians aged ≥ 70 years (females, 50.7%) enrolled in the ASPREE study. A system-wide deficit accumulation frailty index (FI) composed of 67 health-related measures was generated. Brain age and subsequently brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD) were estimated from neuroimaging. Females had significantly reduced AA than males, but higher FI, and there was no difference in brain-PAD. FI had the strongest correlation with DunedinPACE (range r: 0.21 to 0.24 in both sexes). Brain-PAD was not correlated with any biological aging measures. Significant correlations between AA and sociodemographic characteristics and health markers were more commonly found in females (e.g., for DunedinPACE and systolic blood pressure r = 0.2, p < 0.001) than in males. GrimAA and Grim2AA were significantly associated with obesity and depression in females, while in males, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease were associated with these clocks, as well as DunedinPACE. Our findings highlight the importance of considering sex differences when investigating the link between biological age and clinical measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
| | - Peter D Fransquet
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Jo Wrigglesworth
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Robyn L Woods
- ASPREE Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Sara E Espinoza
- Center for Translational Geroscience, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joanne Ryan
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
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Harris KM, Levitt B, Gaydosh L, Martin C, Meyer JM, Mishra AA, Kelly AL, Aiello AE. The Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Correlates of Epigenetic Aging in a Nationally Representative U.S. Study of Younger Adults. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.21.585983. [PMID: 38585956 PMCID: PMC10996523 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.585983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Importance Epigenetic clocks represent molecular evidence of disease risk and aging processes and have been used to identify how social and lifestyle characteristics are associated with accelerated biological aging. However, most of this research is based on older adult samples who already have measurable chronic disease. Objective To investigate whether and how sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics are related to biological aging in a younger adult sample across a wide array of epigenetic clock measures. Design Nationally representative prospective cohort study. Setting United States (U.S.). Participants Data come from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a national cohort of adolescents in grades 7-12 in U.S. in 1994 followed for 25 years over five interview waves. Our analytic sample includes participants followed-up through Wave V in 2016-18 who provided blood samples for DNA methylation (DNAm) testing (n=4237) at Wave V. Exposure Sociodemographic (sex, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, socioeconomic status, geographic location) and lifestyle (obesity status, exercise, tobacco, and alcohol use) characteristics. Main Outcome Biological aging assessed from blood DNAm using 16 epigenetic clocks when the cohort was aged 33-44 in Wave V. Results While there is considerable variation in the mean and distribution of epigenetic clock estimates and in the correlations among the clocks, we found sociodemographic and lifestyle factors are more often associated with biological aging in clocks trained to predict current or dynamic phenotypes (e.g., PhenoAge, GrimAge and DunedinPACE) as opposed to clocks trained to predict chronological age alone (e.g., Horvath). Consistent and strong associations of faster biological aging were found for those with lower levels of education and income, and those with severe obesity, no weekly exercise, and tobacco use. Conclusions and Relevance Our study found important social and lifestyle factors associated with biological aging in a nationally representative cohort of younger-aged adults. These findings indicate that molecular processes underlying disease risk can be identified in adults entering midlife before disease is manifest and represent useful targets for interventions to reduce social inequalities in heathy aging and longevity. Key Points Question: Are epigenetic clocks, measures of biological aging developed mainly on older-adult samples, meaningful for younger adults and associated with sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in expected patterns found in prior aging research?Findings: Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were associated with biological aging in clocks trained to predict morbidity and mortality showing accelerated aging among those with lower levels of education and income, and those with severe obesity, no weekly exercise, and tobacco use.Meaning: Age-related molecular processes can be identified in younger-aged adults before disease manifests and represent potential interventions to reduce social inequalities in heathy aging and longevity.
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12
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Kawamura T, Radak Z, Tabata H, Akiyama H, Nakamura N, Kawakami R, Ito T, Usui C, Jokai M, Torma F, Kim H, Miyachi M, Torii S, Suzuki K, Ishii K, Sakamoto S, Oka K, Higuchi M, Muraoka I, McGreevy KM, Horvath S, Tanisawa K. Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and lifestyle-related factors with DNA methylation-based ageing clocks in older men: WASEDA'S Health Study. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e13960. [PMID: 37584423 PMCID: PMC10776125 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation-based age estimators (DNAm ageing clocks) are currently one of the most promising biomarkers for predicting biological age. However, the relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), measured directly by expiratory gas analysis, and DNAm ageing clocks are largely unknown. We investigated the relationships between CRF and the age-adjusted value from the residuals of the regression of DNAm ageing clock to chronological age (DNAmAgeAcceleration: DNAmAgeAccel) and attempted to determine the relative contribution of CRF to DNAmAgeAccel in the presence of other lifestyle factors. DNA samples from 144 Japanese men aged 65-72 years were used to appraise first- (i.e., DNAmHorvath and DNAmHannum) and second- (i.e., DNAmPhenoAge, DNAmGrimAge, and DNAmFitAge) generation DNAm ageing clocks. Various surveys and measurements were conducted, including physical fitness, body composition, blood biochemical parameters, nutrient intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, disease status, sleep status, and chronotype. Both oxygen uptake at ventilatory threshold (VO2 /kg at VT) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2 /kg at Peak) showed a significant negative correlation with GrimAgeAccel, even after adjustments for chronological age and smoking and drinking status. Notably, VO2 /kg at VT and VO2 /kg at Peak above the reference value were also associated with delayed GrimAgeAccel. Multiple regression analysis showed that calf circumference, serum triglyceride, carbohydrate intake, and smoking status, rather than CRF, contributed more to GrimAgeAccel and FitAgeAccel. In conclusion, although the contribution of CRF to GrimAgeAccel and FitAgeAccel is relatively low compared to lifestyle-related factors such as smoking, the results suggest that the maintenance of CRF is associated with delayed biological ageing in older men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuji Kawamura
- Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, Waseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
- Research Centre for Molecular Exercise ScienceHungarian University of Sports ScienceBudapestHungary
| | - Zsolt Radak
- Research Centre for Molecular Exercise ScienceHungarian University of Sports ScienceBudapestHungary
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | - Hiroki Tabata
- Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, Waseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
- Sportology CentreJuntendo University Graduate School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Hiroshi Akiyama
- Graduate School of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | | | - Ryoko Kawakami
- Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, Waseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
- Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and WelfareTokyoJapan
| | - Tomoko Ito
- Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, Waseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
- Department of Food and NutritionTokyo Kasei UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Chiyoko Usui
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | - Matyas Jokai
- Research Centre for Molecular Exercise ScienceHungarian University of Sports ScienceBudapestHungary
| | - Ferenc Torma
- Faculty of Health and Sport SciencesUniversity of TsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Hyeon‐Ki Kim
- Research Centre for Molecular Exercise ScienceHungarian University of Sports ScienceBudapestHungary
| | | | - Suguru Torii
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | | | - Kaori Ishii
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | - Shizuo Sakamoto
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
- Faculty of Sport ScienceSurugadai UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | - Koichiro Oka
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | | | - Isao Muraoka
- Faculty of Sport SciencesWaseda UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | - Kristen M. McGreevy
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public HealthUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public HealthUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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13
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Li X, Cao X, Zhang J, Fu J, Mohedaner M, Zhuogadanzeng, Sun X, Yang G, Yang Z, Kuo CL, Chen X, Cohen AA, Liu Z. Accelerated aging mediates the associations of unhealthy lifestyles with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality. J Am Geriatr Soc 2024; 72:181-193. [PMID: 37789775 PMCID: PMC11078652 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18611] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With two well-validated aging measures capturing mortality and morbidity risk, this study examined whether and to what extent aging mediates the associations of unhealthy lifestyles with adverse health outcomes. METHODS Data were from 405,944 adults (40-69 years) from UK Biobank (UKB) and 9972 adults (20-84 years) from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). An unhealthy lifestyles score (range: 0-5) was constructed based on five factors (smoking, drinking, physical inactivity, unhealthy body mass index, and unhealthy diet). Two aging measures, Phenotypic Age Acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) and Biological Age Acceleration (BioAgeAccel) were calculated using nine and seven blood biomarkers, respectively, with a higher value indicating the acceleration of aging. The outcomes included incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), incident cancer, and all-cause mortality in UKB; CVD mortality, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality in NHANES. A general linear regression model, Cox proportional hazards model, and formal mediation analysis were performed. RESULTS The unhealthy lifestyles score was positively associated with PhenoAgeAccel (UKB: β = 0.741; NHANES: β = 0.874, all p < 0.001). We further confirmed the respective associations of PhenoAgeAccel and unhealthy lifestyles with the outcomes in UKB and NHANES. The mediation proportion of PhenoAgeAccel in associations of unhealthy lifestyles with incident CVD, incident cancer, and all-cause mortality were 20.0%, 17.8%, and 26.6% (all p < 0.001) in UKB, respectively. Similar results were found in NHANES. The findings were robust when using another aging measure-BioAgeAccel. CONCLUSIONS Accelerated aging partially mediated the associations of lifestyles with CVD, cancer, and mortality in UK and US populations. The findings reveal a novel pathway and the potential of geroprotective programs in mitigating health inequality in late life beyond lifestyle interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Li
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xingqi Cao
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingyun Zhang
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinjing Fu
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mayila Mohedaner
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhuogadanzeng
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoyi Sun
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gan Yang
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhenqing Yang
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chia-Ling Kuo
- Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Economics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Alan A Cohen
- Department of Family Medicine, Research Centre on Aging, CHUS Research Centre, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- Butler Columbia Aging Center and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Zuyun Liu
- Center for Clinical Big Data and Analytics Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
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14
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Krieger N, Testa C, Chen JT, Johnson N, Watkins SH, Suderman M, Simpkin AJ, Tilling K, Waterman PD, Coull BA, De Vivo I, Smith GD, Roux AVD, Relton C. Epigenetic aging & embodying injustice: US My Body My Story and Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis Study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.12.13.23299930. [PMID: 38168159 PMCID: PMC10760288 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.13.23299930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Importance Epigenetic accelerated aging is associated with exposure to social and economic adversity and may increase risk of premature morbidity and mortality. However, no studies have included measures of structural racism and few have compared estimates within or across the 1st and 2nd generation of epigenetic clocks (the latter additionally trained on phenotypic data). Objective To determine if accelerated epigenetic aging is associated with exposures to diverse measures of racialized, economic, and environmental injustice measured at different levels and time periods. Design Cross-sectional My Body My Story Study (MBMS; US, 2008-2010) and Exam 5 Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis Study (MESA; US, 2010-2012). MBMS DNA extraction: 2021; linkage of structural measures to MBMS and MESA: 2022. Setting MBMS recruited a random sample of US-born Black non-Hispanic (BNH) and white non-Hispanic (WNH) participants from 4 community health centers in Boston, MA. The MESA Exam 5 epigenetic component included 975 randomly selected US-born BNH, WNH, and Hispanic participants from four field sites: Baltimore, MD; Forsyth County, NC; New York City, NY; St. Paul, MN. Participants US-born persons (MBMS: 224 BNH, 69 WNH; MESA: 229 BNH, 555 WNH, 191 Hispanic). Main outcome and measures 10 epigenetic clocks (six 1st generation; four 2nd generation), computed using DNA methylation data (DNAm) from blood spots (MBMS; N = 293) and purified monocytes (MESA; N = 975). Results Among Black non-Hispanic MBMS participants, epigenetic age acceleration was associated with being born in a Jim Crow state by 0.14 standard deviations (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00, 0.27) and with birth state conservatism (0.06, 95% CI 0.00, 0.05), pooling across all clocks, as was low parental education for both Black non-Hispanic and white non-Hispanic MBMS participants (respectively: 0.24, 95% CI 0.08, 0.39, and 0.27, 95% CI 0.03, 0.51. Adult impoverishment was positively associated with the pooled 2nd generation clocks among the MESA participants (Black non-Hispanic: 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.12; white non-Hispanic: 0.05, 95% CI 0.01, 0.08; Hispanic: 0.07, 95% CI 0.01, 0.14). Conclusions and Relevance Epigenetic accelerated aging may be one of the biological mechanisms linking exposure to racialized and economic injustice to well-documented inequities in premature morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Krieger
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Christian Testa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jarvis T. Chen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nykesha Johnson
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah H. Watkins
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Kate Tilling
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela D. Waterman
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Brent A. Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - George Davey Smith
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana V. Diez Roux
- Urban Health Collective and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Caroline Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
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15
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Andrasfay T, Crimmins E. Occupational characteristics and epigenetic aging among older adults in the United States. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2218763. [PMID: 37300823 PMCID: PMC10259313 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2218763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Occupational characteristics have been studied as risk factors for several age-related diseases and are thought to impact the ageing process, although there has been limited empirical work demonstrating an association between adverse occupational characteristics and accelerated ageing and this prior work has yielded mixed results. We used the 2010 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 1,251) to examine the association between occupation categories and self-reported working conditions of American adults at midlife and their subsequent epigenetic ageing as measured through five epigenetic clocks: PCHorvath, PCHannum, PCPhenoAge, PCGrimAge, and DunedinPACE. We found that individuals working in sales/clerical, service, and manual work show evidence of epigenetic age acceleration compared to those working in managerial/professional jobs and that the associations were stronger with second- and third-generation clocks. Individuals reporting high stress and high physical effort at work showed evidence of epigenetic age acceleration only on PCGrimAge and DunedinPACE. Most of these associations were attenuated after adjustment for race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and lifestyle-related risk factors. Sales/clerical work remained significantly associated with PCHorvath and PCHannum, while service work remained significantly associated with PCGrimAge. The results suggest that manual work and occupational physical activity may appear to be risk factors for epigenetic age acceleration through their associations with socioeconomic status, while stress at work may be a risk factor for epigenetic age acceleration through its associations with health behaviours outside of work. Additional work is needed to understand when in the life course and the specific mechanisms through which these associations occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Andrasfay
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eileen Crimmins
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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16
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Wang W, Dearman A, Bao Y, Kumari M. Partnership status and positive DNA methylation age acceleration across the adult lifespan in the UK. SSM Popul Health 2023; 24:101551. [PMID: 38034479 PMCID: PMC10682041 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although a significant body of research has shown that married people are healthier and live longer, empirical research on sex differences in the link between marital status and health suggests results are mixed. Moreover, the sex disparities in marital status and health relationships vary across adulthood. The literature on partnership status and measures of ageing is largely focused on older age groups and is limited in its view of early adulthood. Data from waves 2 and 3 (2010-2012) of Understanding Society: UKHLS were used to examine the association of current partnership status with epigenetic age acceleration (AA) assessed with DNA methylation (DNAm) algorithms 'Phenoage' and ' DunedinPACE ' in 3492 participants (aged 16-97). Regression models were estimated separately for men and women, and further stratified by age groups. Divorced/separated and widowed people showed positive age acceleration compared to the married/cohabiting people (reference group). Some sex differences were apparent, especially, among the single and divorced/separated groups. Age differences were also apparent, for example in men, being single was negatively associated with DNAmAA in the youngest group, but positively in the oldest group compared to partnered counterparts. These findings illustrate the importance of partnerships on the ageing process, in particular marital change through divorce and widowhood for positive age acceleration in adults. For single groups, observations were heterogenous by age and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Anna Dearman
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Yanchun Bao
- Department of Mathematics, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, UK
| | - Meena Kumari
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, UK
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17
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Rentscher KE, Bethea TN, Zhai W, Small BJ, Zhou X, Ahles TA, Ahn J, Breen EC, Cohen HJ, Extermann M, Graham DM, Jim HS, McDonald BC, Nakamura ZM, Patel SK, Root JC, Saykin AJ, Van Dyk K, Mandelblatt JS, Carroll JE. Epigenetic aging in older breast cancer survivors and noncancer controls: preliminary findings from the Thinking and Living with Cancer Study. Cancer 2023; 129:2741-2753. [PMID: 37259669 PMCID: PMC10659047 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer and its treatments may accelerate aging in survivors; however, research has not examined epigenetic markers of aging in longer term breast cancer survivors. This study examined whether older breast cancer survivors showed greater epigenetic aging than noncancer controls and whether epigenetic aging related to functional outcomes. METHODS Nonmetastatic breast cancer survivors (n = 89) enrolled prior to systemic therapy and frequency-matched controls (n = 101) ages 62 to 84 years provided two blood samples to derive epigenetic aging measures (Horvath, Extrinsic Epigenetic Age [EEA], PhenoAge, GrimAge, Dunedin Pace of Aging) and completed cognitive (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function) and physical (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12) function assessments at approximately 24 to 36 and 60 months after enrollment. Mixed-effects models tested survivor-control differences in epigenetic aging, adjusting for age and comorbidities; models for functional outcomes also adjusted for racial group, site, and cognitive reserve. RESULTS Survivors were 1.04 to 2.22 years biologically older than controls on Horvath, EEA, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE measures (p = .001-.04) at approximately 24 to 36 months after enrollment. Survivors exposed to chemotherapy were 1.97 to 2.71 years older (p = .001-.04), and among this group, an older EEA related to worse self-reported cognition (p = .047) relative to controls. An older epigenetic age related to worse physical function in all women (p < .001-.01). Survivors and controls showed similar epigenetic aging over time, but Black survivors showed accelerated aging over time relative to non-Hispanic White survivors. CONCLUSION Older breast cancer survivors, particularly those exposed to chemotherapy, showed greater epigenetic aging than controls that may relate to worse outcomes. If replicated, measurement of biological aging could complement geriatric assessments to guide cancer care for older women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E. Rentscher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Traci N. Bethea
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Wanting Zhai
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Brent J. Small
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Xingtao Zhou
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Tim A. Ahles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Jaeil Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Elizabeth C. Breen
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Harvey Jay Cohen
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | | | - Deena M.A. Graham
- John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ
| | | | - Brenna C. McDonald
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Zev M. Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | - James C. Root
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Kathleen Van Dyk
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Judith E. Carroll
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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18
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Bourdon C, Etain B, Spano L, Belzeaux R, Leboyer M, Delahaye-Duriez A, Ibrahim EC, Lutz PE, Gard S, Schwan R, Polosan M, Courtet P, Passerieux C, Bellivier F, Marie-Claire C. Accelerated aging in bipolar disorders: An exploratory study of six epigenetic clocks. Psychiatry Res 2023; 327:115373. [PMID: 37542794 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and severe psychiatric disorder associated with significant medical morbidity and reduced life expectancy. In this study, we assessed accelerated epigenetic aging in individuals with BD using various DNA methylation (DNAm)-based markers. For this purpose, we used five epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, EN, PhenoAge, and GrimAge) and a DNAm-based telomere length clock (DNAmTL). DNAm profiles were obtained using Infinium MethylationEPIC Arrays from whole-blood samples of 184 individuals with BD. We also estimated blood cell counts based on DNAm levels for adjustment. Significant correlations between chronological age and each epigenetic age estimated using the six different clocks were observed. Following adjustment for blood cell counts, we found that the six epigenetic AgeAccels (age accelerations) were significantly associated with the body mass index. GrimAge AgeAccel was significantly associated with male sex, smoking status and childhood maltreatment. DNAmTL AgeAccel was significantly associated with smoking status. Overall, this study showed that distinct epigenetic clocks are sensitive to different aspects of aging process in BD. Further investigations with comprehensive epigenetic clock analyses and large samples are required to confirm our findings of potential determinants of an accelerated epigenetic aging in BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Bourdon
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, F-75006 Paris, France.
| | - Bruno Etain
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, F-75006 Paris, France; Département de Psychiatrie et de Médecine Addictologique, Hôpitaux Lariboisière-Fernand Widal, GHU APHP.Nord - Université de Paris, Paris, F-75010, France; Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Luana Spano
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Raoul Belzeaux
- Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie, CHU de Montpellier, France; Pôle de Psychiatrie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, INT-UMR7289, CNRS Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Translational Neuro-Psychiatry, Créteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France; Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Translational Neuro-Psychiatry, Créteil, France; AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Département Médico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU IMPACT), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision en Psychiatrie (FHU ADAPT), Créteil, France
| | | | - El Chérif Ibrahim
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR3212, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sébastien Gard
- Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France; Pôle de Psychiatrie Générale et Universitaire, Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Bordeaux, France
| | - Raymund Schwan
- Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France; Université de Lorraine, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Inserm U1254, Nancy, France
| | - Mircea Polosan
- Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France; Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, Institut Neurosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Courtet
- Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France; IGF, Univ. Montpellier France, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France; Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christine Passerieux
- Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France; Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie d'adulte et d'addictologie, Le Chesnay, France; DisAP-DevPsy-CESP, INSERM UMR1018, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Frank Bellivier
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, F-75006 Paris, France; Département de Psychiatrie et de Médecine Addictologique, Hôpitaux Lariboisière-Fernand Widal, GHU APHP.Nord - Université de Paris, Paris, F-75010, France; Fondation Fondamental, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Cynthia Marie-Claire
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, F-75006 Paris, France
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Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Cardenas A, Gao X, Wang C, Vokonas P, Spiro A, Osborne AD, Kosheleva A, Hou L, Baccarelli AA, Schwartz J. Psychological Stress and Epigenetic Aging in Older Men: The VA Normative Aging Study. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE OF AGING 2023; 7:66-74. [PMID: 37576443 PMCID: PMC10416788 DOI: 10.1016/j.tma.2023.06.003] [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] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychological stress remains an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality throughout the life course. However, there have been counterintuitive findings reported in previous studies of older persons that examine the relationships of perceived psychological stress with DNA methylation-based markers of aging, which also serve as predictors of morbidity and mortality (epigenetic age/clocks). We aimed to replicate and expand findings from existing work by examining relationships of self-reported stress with nine epigenetic clocks: Hannum, Horvath, Intrinsic, Extrinsic, SkinBloodClock, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DNAm Telomere Length, and Pace of Aging. We analyzed data from 607 male participants (mean age 73.2 years) of the VA Normative Aging Study with one to two study visits from 1999 to 2007 (observations = 956). Stress was assessed via the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Epigenetic age was calculated from DNA methylation measured in leukocytes with the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. In linear mixed effects models adjusted for demographic/lifestyle/health factors, a standard deviation (sd) increase in PSS was associated with Horvath (β = -0.35-years, 95%CI: -0.61, -0.09, P=0.008) and Intrinsic (β = -0.40-years, 95%CI: -0.67, -0.13, P=0.004) epigenetic age deceleration. However, in models limited to participants with the highest levels of stress (≥ 75th-percentile), Horvath (β = 2.29-years, 95%CI: 0.16, 4.41, P=0.04) and Intrinsic (β = 2.06-years, 95%CI: -0.17, 4.28, P=0.07) age acceleration associations were observed. Our results reinforce the complexity of psychological stress and epigenetic aging relationships and lay a foundation for future studies that explore longitudinal relationships with other adult stress metrics and factors that can influence stress such as resilience measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamaji C. Nwanaji-Enwerem
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Cuicui Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and MD/PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Avron Spiro
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology and Research Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anwar D. Osborne
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anna Kosheleva
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and MD/PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and MD/PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Vega-Benedetti AF, Loi E, Moi L, Zavattari P. DNA methylation alterations at RE1-silencing transcription factor binding sites and their flanking regions in cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:98. [PMID: 37301955 PMCID: PMC10257853 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01514-9] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation changes, frequent early events in cancer, can modulate the binding of transcription factors. RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) plays a fundamental role in regulating the expression of neuronal genes, and in particular their silencing in non-neuronal tissues, by inducing chromatin modifications, including DNA methylation changes, not only in the proximity of its binding sites but also in the flanking regions. REST has been found aberrantly expressed in brain cancer and other cancer types. In this work, we investigated DNA methylation alterations at REST binding sites and their flanking regions in a brain cancer (pilocytic astrocytoma), two gastrointestinal tumours (colorectal cancer and biliary tract cancer) and a blood cancer (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). RESULTS Differential methylation analyses focused on REST binding sites and their flanking regions were conducted between tumour and normal samples from our experimental datasets analysed by Illumina microarrays and the identified alterations were validated using publicly available datasets. We discovered distinct DNA methylation patterns between pilocytic astrocytoma and the other cancer types in agreement with the opposite oncogenic and tumour suppressive role of REST in glioma and non-brain tumours. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that these DNA methylation alterations in cancer may be associated with REST dysfunction opening the enthusiastic possibility to develop novel therapeutic interventions based on the modulation of this master regulator in order to restore the aberrant methylation of its target regions into a normal status.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleonora Loi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Loredana Moi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zavattari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Biology and Genetics, University of Cagliari, 09042, Cagliari, Italy.
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21
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O'Shea DM, Alaimo H, Davis JD, Galvin JE, Tremont G. A comparison of cognitive performances based on differing rates of DNA methylation GrimAge acceleration among older men and women. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 123:83-91. [PMID: 36641830 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.12.011] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive heterogeneity increases with age rendering sex differences difficult to identify. Given established sex differences in biological aging, we examined whether comparisons of men and women on neuropsychological test performances differed as a function of age rate. Data were obtained from 1921 adults enrolled in the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. The residual from regressing the DNA methylation GrimAge clock on chronological age was used as the measure of aging rate. Slow and fast age rates were predefined as 1 standard deviation below or above the sex-specific mean rates, respectively. ANCOVAs were used to test group differences in test performances. Pairwise comparisons revealed that slow aging men outperformed fast aging women (and vice versa) on measures of executive function/speed, visual memory and semantic fluency; however, when groups were matched by aging rates, no significant differences remained. In contrast, women, regardless of their aging rates, education or depressive symptoms maintained their advantage on verbal learning and memory. Implications for research on sex differences in cognitive aging are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre M O'Shea
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
| | | | - Jennifer D Davis
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - James E Galvin
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Geoffrey Tremont
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
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22
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Iannuzzi V, Bacalini MG, Franceschi C, Giuliani C. The role of genetics and epigenetics in sex differences in human survival. GENUS 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s41118-023-00181-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractSex differences in human survival have been extensively investigated in many studies that have in part uncovered the biological determinants that promote a longer life in females with respect to males. Moreover, researches performed in the past years have prompted increased awareness about the biological effects of environmental factors that can modulate the magnitude of the sex gap in survival. Besides the genetic background, epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation, that can modulate cell function, have been particularly studied in this framework. In this review, we aim to summarize the role of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in promoting female advantage from the early in life (“INNATE” features), and in influencing the magnitude of the gap in sex differences in survival and ageing (“VARIABLE” features). After briefly discussing the biological bases of sex determination in humans, we will provide much evidence showing that (i) “innate” mechanisms common to all males and to all females (both genetic and epigenetic) play a major role in sex differences in lifespan; (ii) “variable” genetic and epigenetic patterns, that vary according to context, populations and exposures to different environments, can affect the magnitude of the gap in sex differences in survival. Then we will describe recent findings in the use of epigenetic clocks to uncover sex differences in biological age and thus potentially in mortality. In conclusion, we will discuss how environmental factors cannot be kept apart from the biological factors providing evidence from the field of human ecology.
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23
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Wu Y, Xu R, Li S, Ming Wong E, Southey MC, Hopper JL, Abramson MJ, Li S, Guo Y. Epigenome-wide association study of short-term temperature fluctuations based on within-sibship analyses in Australian females. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107655. [PMID: 36476687 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Temperature fluctuations can affect human health independent of the effect of mean temperature. However, no study has evaluated whether short-term temperature fluctuations could affect DNA methylation. METHODS Peripheral blood DNA methylation for 479 female siblings of 130 families were analysed. Gridded daily temperatures data were obtained, linked to each participant's home address, and used to calculate nine different metrics of short-term temperature fluctuations: temperature variabilities (TVs) within the day of blood draw and preceding one to seven days (TV 0-1 to TV 0-7), diurnal temperature range (DTR), and temperature change between neighbouring days (TCN). Within-sibship design was used to perform epigenome-wide association analyses, adjusting for daily mean temperatures, and other important covariates (e.g., smoking, alcohol use, cell-type proportions). Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were further identified. Multiple-testing comparisons with a significant threshold of 0.01 for cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) and 0.05 for DMRs were applied. RESULTS Among 479 participants (mean age ± SD, 56.4 ± 7.9 years), we identified significant changes in methylation levels in 14 CpGs and 70 DMRs associated with temperature fluctuations. Almost all identified CpGs were associated with exposure to temperature fluctuations within three days. Differentially methylated signals were mapped to 68 genes that were linked to human diseases such as cancer (e.g., colorectal carcinoma, breast carcinoma, and metastatic neoplasms) and mental disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, mental depression, and bipolar disorder). The top three most significantly enriched gene ontology terms were Response to bacterium (TV 0-3), followed by Hydrolase activity, acting on ester bonds (TCN), and Oxidoreductase activity (TV 0-3). CONCLUSIONS Short-term temperature fluctuations were associated with differentially methylated signals across the human genome, which provides evidence on the potential biological mechanisms underlying the health impact of temperature fluctuations. Future studies are needed to further clarify the roles of DNA methylation in diseases associated with temperature fluctuations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Rongbin Xu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Ee Ming Wong
- Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Melissa C Southey
- Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - John L Hopper
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Michael J Abramson
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Shuai Li
- Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Yuming Guo
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
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24
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O’Shea DM, Galvin JE. Female APOE ɛ4 Carriers with Slow Rates of Biological Aging Have Better Memory Performances Compared to Female ɛ4 Carriers with Accelerated Aging. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 92:1269-1282. [PMID: 36872781 PMCID: PMC10535361 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221145] [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] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that APOE ɛ4 carriers have worse memory performances compared to APOE ɛ4 non-carriers and effects may vary by sex and age. Estimates of biological age, using DNA methylation may enhance understanding of the associations between sex and APOE ɛ4 on cognition. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether associations between APOE ɛ4 status and memory vary according to rates of biological aging, using a DNA methylation age biomarker, in older men and women without dementia. METHODS Data were obtained from 1,771 adults enrolled in the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. A series of ANCOVAs were used to test the interaction effects of APOE ɛ4 status and aging rates (defined as 1 standard deviation below (i.e., slow rate), or above (i.e., fast rate) their sex-specific mean rate of aging on a composite measure of verbal learning and memory. RESULTS APOE ɛ4 female carriers with slow rates of GrimAge had significantly better memory performances compared to fast and average aging APOE ɛ4 female carriers. There was no effect of aging group rate on memory in the female non-carriers and no significant differences in memory according to age rate in either male APOE ɛ4 carriers or non-carriers. CONCLUSION Slower rates of aging in female APOE ɛ4 carriers may buffer against the negative effects of the ɛ4 allele on memory. However, longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate risk of dementia/memory impairment based on rates of aging in female APOE ɛ4 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre M. O’Shea
- Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - James E. Galvin
- Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL, USA
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25
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Evaluation of Epigenetic Age Acceleration Scores and Their Associations with CVD-Related Phenotypes in a Population Cohort. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:biology12010068. [PMID: 36671760 PMCID: PMC9855929 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated associations between nine epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) scores and 18 cardiometabolic phenotypes using an Eastern European ageing population cohort richly annotated for a diverse set of phenotypes (subsample, n = 306; aged 45-69 years). This was implemented by splitting the data into groups with positive and negative EAAs. We observed strong association between all EAA scores and sex, suggesting that any analysis of EAAs should be adjusted by sex. We found that some sex-adjusted EAA scores were significantly associated with several phenotypes such as blood levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase and low-density lipoprotein, smoking status, annual alcohol consumption, multiple carotid plaques, and incident coronary heart disease status (not necessarily the same phenotypes for different EAAs). We demonstrated that even after adjusting EAAs for sex, EAA-phenotype associations remain sex-specific, which should be taken into account in any downstream analysis involving EAAs. The obtained results suggest that in some EAA-phenotype associations, negative EAA scores (i.e., epigenetic age below chronological age) indicated more harmful phenotype values, which is counterintuitive. Among all considered epigenetic clocks, GrimAge was significantly associated with more phenotypes than any other EA scores in this Russian sample.
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26
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Abram SV, Roach BJ, Hua JPY, Han LKM, Mathalon DH, Ford JM, Fryer SL. Advanced brain age correlates with greater rumination and less mindfulness in schizophrenia. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 37:103301. [PMID: 36586360 PMCID: PMC9830317 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual variation in brain aging trajectories is linked with several physical and mental health outcomes. Greater stress levels, worry, and rumination correspond with advanced brain age, while other individual characteristics, like mindfulness, may be protective of brain health. Multiple lines of evidence point to advanced brain aging in schizophrenia (i.e., neural age estimate > chronological age). Whether psychological dimensions such as mindfulness, rumination, and perceived stress contribute to brain aging in schizophrenia is unknown. METHODS We estimated brain age from high-resolution anatomical scans in 54 healthy controls (HC) and 52 individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and computed the brain predicted age difference (BrainAGE-diff), i.e., the delta between estimated brain age and chronological age. Emotional well-being summary scores were empirically derived to reflect individual differences in trait mindfulness, rumination, and perceived stress. Core analyses evaluated relationships between BrainAGE-diff and emotional well-being, testing for slopes differences across groups. RESULTS HC showed higher emotional well-being (greater mindfulness and less rumination/stress), relative to SZ. We observed a significant group difference in the relationship between BrainAge-diff and emotional well-being, explained by BrainAGE-diff negatively correlating with emotional well-being scores in SZ, and not in HC. That is, SZ with younger appearing brains (predicted age < chronological age) had emotional summary scores that were more like HC, a relationship that endured after accounting for several demographic and clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS These data reveal clinically relevant aspects of brain age heterogeneity among SZ and point to case-control differences in the relationship between advanced brain aging and emotional well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha V Abram
- Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Brian J Roach
- Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jessica P Y Hua
- Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Laura K M Han
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel H Mathalon
- Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Judith M Ford
- Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Susanna L Fryer
- Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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27
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Epigenetic clock: A promising biomarker and practical tool in aging. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 81:101743. [PMID: 36206857 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
As a complicated process, aging is characterized by various changes at the cellular, subcellular and nuclear levels, one of which is epigenetic aging. With increasing awareness of the critical role that epigenetic alternations play in aging, DNA methylation patterns have been employed as a measure of biological age, currently referred to as the epigenetic clock. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the epigenetic clock as a biomarker of aging and a useful tool to manage healthy aging. In this burgeoning scientific field, various kinds of epigenetic clocks continue to emerge, including Horvath's clock, Hannum's clock, DNA PhenoAge, and DNA GrimAge. We hereby present the most classic epigenetic clocks, as well as their differences. Correlations of epigenetic age with morbidity, mortality and other factors suggest the potential of epigenetic clocks for risk prediction and identification in the context of aging. In particular, we summarize studies on promising age-reversing interventions, with epigenetic clocks employed as a practical tool in the efficacy evaluation. We also discuss how the lack of higher-quality information poses a major challenge, and offer some suggestions to address existing obstacles. Hopefully, our review will help provide an appropriate understanding of the epigenetic clocks, thereby enabling novel insights into the aging process and how it can be manipulated to promote healthy aging.
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Liang WS, Goetz LH, Schork NJ. Assessing brain and biological aging trajectories associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1036102. [PMID: 36389222 PMCID: PMC9650396 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1036102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of effective treatments to prevent and slow Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis is needed in order to tackle the steady increase in the global prevalence of AD. This challenge is complicated by the need to identify key health shifts that precede the onset of AD and cognitive decline as these represent windows of opportunity for intervening and preventing disease. Such shifts may be captured through the measurement of biomarkers that reflect the health of the individual, in particular those that reflect brain age and biological age. Brain age biomarkers provide a composite view of the health of the brain based on neuroanatomical analyses, while biological age biomarkers, which encompass the epigenetic clock, provide a measurement of the overall health state of an individual based on DNA methylation analysis. Acceleration of brain and biological ages is associated with changes in cognitive function, as well as neuropathological markers of AD. In this mini-review, we discuss brain age and biological age research in the context of cognitive decline and AD. While more research is needed, studies show that brain and biological aging trajectories are variable across individuals and that such trajectories are non-linear at older ages. Longitudinal monitoring of these biomarkers may be valuable for enabling earlier identification of divergent pathological trajectories toward AD and providing insight into points for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie S. Liang
- NetBio, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- *Correspondence: Winnie S. Liang,
| | - Laura H. Goetz
- NetBio, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Nicholas J. Schork
- NetBio, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Lundgren S, Kuitunen S, Pietiläinen KH, Hurme M, Kähönen M, Männistö S, Perola M, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari O, Kaprio J, Ollikainen M. BMI is positively associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in twin pairs discordant for body mass index. J Intern Med 2022; 292:627-640. [PMID: 35699258 PMCID: PMC9540898 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a heritable complex phenotype that can increase the risk of age-related outcomes. Biological age can be estimated from DNA methylation (DNAm) using various "epigenetic clocks." Previous work suggests individuals with elevated weight also display accelerated aging, but results vary by epigenetic clock and population. Here, we utilize the new epigenetic clock GrimAge, which closely correlates with mortality. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the cross-sectional association of body mass index (BMI) with age acceleration in twins to limit confounding by genetics and shared environment. METHODS AND RESULTS Participants were from the Finnish Twin Cohort (FTC; n = 1424), including monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, and DNAm was measured using the Illumina 450K array. Multivariate linear mixed effects models including MZ and DZ twins showed an accelerated epigenetic age of 1.02 months (p-value = 6.1 × 10-12 ) per one-unit BMI increase. Additionally, heavier twins in a BMI-discordant MZ twin pair (ΔBMI >3 kg/m2 ) had an epigenetic age 5.2 months older than their lighter cotwin (p-value = 0.0074). We also found a positive association between log (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance) and age acceleration, confirmed by a meta-analysis of the FTC and two other Finnish cohorts (overall effect = 0.45 years, p-value = 4.1 × 10-25 ) from adjusted models. CONCLUSION We identified significant associations of BMI and insulin resistance with age acceleration based on GrimAge, which were not due to genetic effects on BMI and aging. Overall, these results support a role of BMI in aging, potentially in part due to the effects of insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lundgren
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sara Kuitunen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsi H Pietiläinen
- Obesity Research Unit, Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Obesity Center, Endocrinology, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Hurme
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mika Kähönen
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.,Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Satu Männistö
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus Perola
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center-Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Olli Raitakari
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Miina Ollikainen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Zhou A, Wu Z, Zaw Phyo AZ, Torres D, Vishwanath S, Ryan J. Epigenetic aging as a biomarker of dementia and related outcomes: a systematic review. Epigenomics 2022; 14:1125-1138. [PMID: 36154448 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Biological aging may be a robust biomarker of dementia or cognitive performance. This systematic review synthesized the evidence for an association between epigenetic aging and dementia, mild cognitive impairment and cognitive function. Methods: A systematic search was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: 30 eligible articles were included. There was no strong evidence that accelerated epigenetic aging was associated with dementia/mild cognitive impairment (n = 7). There was some evidence of an association with poorer cognition (n = 20), particularly with GrimAge acceleration, but this was inconsistent and varied across cognitive domains. A meta-analysis was not performed due to high study heterogeneity. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence to indicate that current epigenetic aging clocks can be clinically useful biomarkers of dementia or cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoshuang Zhou
- Division of Epidemiology, Jockey Club School of Public Health & Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zimu Wu
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Daniel Torres
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Swarna Vishwanath
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
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Epigenetic aging and perceived psychological stress in old age. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:410. [PMID: 36163242 PMCID: PMC9513097 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse effects of psychological stress on physical and mental health, especially in older age, are well documented. How perceived stress relates to the epigenetic clock measure, DNA methylation age acceleration (DNAmAA), is less well understood and existing studies reported inconsistent results. DNAmAA was estimated from five epigenetic clocks (7-CpG, Horvath's, Hannum's, PhenoAge and GrimAge DNAmAA). Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used as marker of psychological stress. We analyzed data from 1,100 Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) participants assessed as part of the GendAge study (mean age = 75.6 years, SD = 3.8 years, 52.1% women). In a first step, we replicated well-established associations of perceived stress with morbidity, frailty, and symptoms of depression in the BASE-II cohort studied here. In a second step, we did not find any statistically significant association of perceived stress with any of the five epigenetic clocks in multiple linear regression analyses that adjusted for covariates. Although the body of literature suggests an association between higher DNAmAA and stress or trauma during early childhood, the current study found no evidence for an association of perception of stress with DNAmAA in older people. We discuss possible reasons for the lack of associations and highlight directions for future research.
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32
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Bergquist SH, Wang D, Smith AK, Roberts DL, Moore MA. Hormetic association between perceived stress and human epigenetic aging based on resilience capacity. Biogerontology 2022; 23:615-627. [PMID: 35960459 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-022-09985-8] [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: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress is associated with deleterious health outcomes and mortality risk. A potential mechanism by which stress affects healthspan and lifespan is acceleration of cellular aging. Biologic age prediction models, termed epigenetic clocks, have been developed to estimate biologic age differences among people with the same chronologic age. This study evaluates the simultaneous impact of perceived chronic stress and resilience on Grim Age acceleration. The perceived stress score (PSS) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used to measure chronic stress and resilience, respectively. DNA was extracted from whole blood and analyzed using the MethylationEPIC BeadChip. GrimAge estimates were calculated using the methylation age calculator. Forty-seven business executives were categorized by levels of high or low stress and resilience scores. Compared to participants with low stress and high resilience, those with low stress and low resilience demonstrated the strongest association with Grim Age acceleration (p = 0.044), after controlling for age and estimated cellular proportions. Interestingly, among participants with low resilience, those with high perceived stress had a weaker association with Grim Age acceleration than participants with low perceived stress. However, among participants with high resilience, low perceived stress had a weaker association with Grim Age acceleration than high perceived stress. Our findings suggest that the impact of perceived stress on epigenetic age acceleration may differ based on resilience capacity, with a potential paradoxical beneficial effect among those with low resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon H Bergquist
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, A140030322, USA.
| | - Danyang Wang
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David L Roberts
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, A140030322, USA
| | - Miranda A Moore
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, A140030322, USA.,Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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33
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Lei MK, Lavner JA, Carter SE, Adesogan O, Beach SRH. Relationship intervention indirectly buffers financial strain's effect on biological aging among Black adults. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY : JFP : JOURNAL OF THE DIVISION OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (DIVISION 43) 2022; 36:502-512. [PMID: 34672636 PMCID: PMC9021333 DOI: 10.1037/fam0000926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Black adults in the rural South experience elevated financial strain and other contextual stressors, increasing their risk for poor health. Supportive relationships, particularly positive romantic relationships, have been shown to offset these risks. The present study aims to provide experimental evidence of the buffering effect of supportive relationships by testing whether participation in a relationship enhancement program (ProSAAF) that improves couple functioning (Barton, Beach, Wells, et al., 2018) subsequently buffers the effect of cumulative financial strain on biological aging (weathering). Postintervention financial strain was assessed four times. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from peripheral whole blood collected 6 years after baseline (n = 348 individuals), and patterns of methylation were used to index accelerated pace of aging. Couple functioning was treated as a latent construct comprising four self-report indicators: effective communication, relationship confidence, relationship satisfaction, and perceived partner support. Results indicated that cumulative financial strain was associated with accelerated pace of aging with a medium to large effect size. This effect was moderated by change in couple functioning such that individuals with greater improvement in couple functioning showed less epigenetic aging in response to cumulative financial strain. Additionally, there was a significant indirect buffering effect of ProSAAF on the association between cumulative financial strain and accelerated pace of aging. This is the first study to demonstrate that a couple-focused preventive intervention can reduce the impact of financial strain on rate of aging by enhancing couple functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Kit Lei
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia
| | - Justin A. Lavner
- Department of Psychology and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
| | | | | | - Steven R. H. Beach
- Department of Psychology and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
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34
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Bozack AK, Boileau P, Hubbard AE, Sillé FCM, Ferreccio C, Steinmaus CM, Smith MT, Cardenas A. The impact of prenatal and early-life arsenic exposure on epigenetic age acceleration among adults in Northern Chile. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2022; 8:dvac014. [PMID: 35769198 PMCID: PMC9235373 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to arsenic affects millions of people globally. Changes in the epigenome may be involved in pathways linking arsenic to health or serve as biomarkers of exposure. This study investigated associations between prenatal and early-life arsenic exposure and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in adults, a biomarker of morbidity and mortality. DNA methylation was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and buccal cells from 40 adults (median age = 49 years) in Chile with and without high prenatal and early-life arsenic exposure. EAA was calculated using the Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, skin and blood, GrimAge, and DNA methylation telomere length clocks. We evaluated associations between arsenic exposure and EAA using robust linear models. Participants classified as with and without arsenic exposure had a median drinking water arsenic concentration at birth of 555 and 2 μg/l, respectively. In PBMCs, adjusting for sex and smoking, exposure was associated with a 6-year PhenoAge acceleration [B (95% CI) = 6.01 (2.60, 9.42)]. After adjusting for cell-type composition, we found positive associations with Hannum EAA [B (95% CI) = 3.11 (0.13, 6.10)], skin and blood EAA [B (95% CI) = 1.77 (0.51, 3.03)], and extrinsic EAA [B (95% CI) = 4.90 (1.22, 8.57)]. The association with PhenoAge acceleration in buccal cells was positive but not statistically significant [B (95% CI) = 4.88 (-1.60, 11.36)]. Arsenic exposure limited to early-life stages may be associated with biological aging in adulthood. Future research may provide information on how EAA programmed in early life is related to health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Bozack
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Philippe Boileau
- Graduate Group in Biostatistics, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Alan E Hubbard
- Graduate Group in Biostatistics, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Fenna C M Sillé
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E7527, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Catterina Ferreccio
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Sergio Livingstone 1007, Independencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Craig M Steinmaus
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Martyn T Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- *Correspondence address. Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. Tel: +510-643-0965; E-mail:
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35
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Lei MK, Brody GH, Beach SRH. Intervention effects on self-control decrease speed of biological aging mediated by changes in substance use: A longitudinal study of African American youth. FAMILY PROCESS 2022; 61:659-673. [PMID: 34389984 PMCID: PMC8841568 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Biological aging is a common root for multiple diseases causing morbidity and mortality, and trajectories of aging may start early in life. This study was designed to examine whether a universal family-based substance use preventive intervention to enhance self-control and reduce substance use would also result in reductions in biological aging among Black youth from the rural South. The Adults in the Making (AIM) program is a randomized controlled trial with six 2-h sessions for Black youth. The 216 youths agreeing to provide blood at age 22 included 114 who had received the AIM intervention and 102 who assigned to the control group. We examined accelerated DNA methylation (DNAm)-based aging using a recently developed measure, "GrimAge," that has been shown to predict the risk of early mortality and that is known to be more strongly affected by substance use than other DNAm-based aging indices. Relative to those randomly assigned to the control group, those receiving the intervention demonstrated significantly enhanced self-control, slower increases in substance use, and reduced Grim aging at age 22. Using a bootstrapping method with 1000 replications, we found a significant indirect effect of AIM on reduced Grim aging through its effect on self-control and substance use. Sensitivity analyses examined effects using other indices of DNAm-based aging. These findings suggest that a family-based program designed to enhance rural Black youth's self-control can have beneficial effects on self-control, enhancing young adult health and health behavior, and ultimately decreased mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Kit Lei
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia
| | | | - Steven R. H. Beach
- Department of Psychology and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
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Schmitz LL, Zhao W, Ratliff SM, Goodwin J, Miao J, Lu Q, Guo X, Taylor KD, Ding J, Liu Y, Levine M, Smith JA. The Socioeconomic Gradient in Epigenetic Ageing Clocks: Evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and the Health and Retirement Study. Epigenetics 2022; 17:589-611. [PMID: 34227900 PMCID: PMC9235889 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1939479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic clocks have been widely used to predict disease risk in multiple tissues or cells. Their success as a measure of biological ageing has prompted research on the connection between epigenetic pathways of ageing and the socioeconomic gradient in health and mortality. However, studies examining social correlates of epigenetic ageing have yielded inconsistent results. We conducted a comprehensive, comparative analysis of associations between various dimensions of socioeconomic status (SES) (education, income, wealth, occupation, neighbourhood environment, and childhood SES) and eight epigenetic clocks in two well-powered US ageing studies: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) (n = 1,211) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (n = 4,018). In both studies, we found robust associations between SES measures in adulthood and the GrimAge and DunedinPoAm clocks (Bonferroni-corrected p-value < 0.01). In the HRS, significant associations with the Levine and Yang clocks were also evident. These associations were only partially mediated by smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity, which suggests that differences in health behaviours alone cannot explain the SES gradient in epigenetic ageing in older adults. Further analyses revealed concurrent associations between polygenic risk for accelerated intrinsic epigenetic ageing, SES, and the Levine clock, indicating that genetic risk and social disadvantage may contribute additively to faster biological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L. Schmitz
- Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA
| | - Scott M. Ratliff
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA
| | - Julia Goodwin
- Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Jiacheng Miao
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Xiuqing Guo
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, USA
| | - Kent D. Taylor
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, USA
| | - Jingzhong Ding
- Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, USA
| | - Yongmei Liu
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, USA
| | - Morgan Levine
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Yale University, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, USA
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Perazza LR, Brown-Borg HM, Thompson LV. Physiological Systems in Promoting Frailty. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:3575-3620. [PMID: 35578945 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Frailty is a complex syndrome affecting a growing sector of the global population as medical developments have advanced human mortality rates across the world. Our current understanding of frailty is derived from studies conducted in the laboratory as well as the clinic, which have generated largely phenotypic information. Far fewer studies have uncovered biological underpinnings driving the onset and progression of frailty, but the stage is set to advance the field with preclinical and clinical assessment tools, multiomics approaches together with physiological and biochemical methodologies. In this article, we provide comprehensive coverage of topics regarding frailty assessment, preclinical models, interventions, and challenges as well as clinical frameworks and prevalence. We also identify central biological mechanisms that may be at play including mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic alterations, and oxidative stress that in turn, affect metabolism, stress responses, and endocrine and neuromuscular systems. We review the role of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and visceral obesity, focusing on glucose homeostasis, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) as critical players influencing the age-related loss of health. We further focus on how immunometabolic dysfunction associates with oxidative stress in promoting sarcopenia, a key contributor to slowness, weakness, and fatigue. We explore the biological mechanisms involved in stem cell exhaustion that affect regeneration and may contribute to the frailty-associated decline in resilience and adaptation to stress. Together, an overview of the interplay of aging biology with genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that contribute to frailty, as well as potential therapeutic targets to lower risk and slow the progression of ongoing disease is covered. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-46, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís R Perazza
- Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Holly M Brown-Borg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - LaDora V Thompson
- Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Could routine forensic STR genotyping data leak personal phenotypic information? Forensic Sci Int 2022; 335:111311. [PMID: 35468577 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111311] [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: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The application of forensic genetic markers must comply with privacy rights and legal policies on a premise that the markers do not expose phenotypic information. The most widely-used short tandem repeats (STRs) are generally viewed as 'junk' DNA because most STRs are located in non-coding regions and therefore refrain from leaking phenotypic traits. But with a deepening understanding of phenotypes and underlying genetic structure, whether STRs could potentially reflect any phenotypic information may need re-examining. Therefore, we performed the following analyses. First, we analyzed the association between 15 STRs and three facial characteristics (single or double eyelid, with or without epicanthus, unattached or attached earlobe) on 721 unrelated Han Chinese individuals. Then, we collected 27199 individuals' STRs and geographic data from the literature to investigate the association between STRs and bio-geographic information, and predict geographic information by STRs on additional 1993 unrelated individuals. We found that there was scarcely any association between STRs with studied facial characteristics. Although allele19 in D2S1338 and allele 18 in FGA (P = 0.0032, P = 0.0030, respectively after Bonferroni correction) showed statistical significance, the prediction effectiveness was very low. For the STRs and bio-geographic information, the principal component analysis showed the first three components could explain 87.7% of the variance, but the prediction accuracy only reached 25.2%. We demonstrated that the forensic phenotypes are usually complex traits, it is hardly possible to uncover phenotypic information by testing only dozens of STR loci.
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Mozhui K, Lu AT, Li CZ, Haghani A, Sandoval-Sierra JV, Wu Y, Williams RW, Horvath S. Genetic loci and metabolic states associated with murine epigenetic aging. eLife 2022; 11:e75244. [PMID: 35389339 PMCID: PMC9049972 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) are linked to aging. Here, we profile highly conserved CpGs in 339 predominantly female mice belonging to the BXD family for which we have deep longevity and genomic data. We use a 'pan-mammalian' microarray that provides a common platform for assaying the methylome across mammalian clades. We computed epigenetic clocks and tested associations with DNAm entropy, diet, weight, metabolic traits, and genetic variation. We describe the multifactorial variance of methylation at these CpGs and show that high-fat diet augments the age-related changes. Entropy increases with age. The progression to disorder, particularly at CpGs that gain methylation over time, was predictive of genotype-dependent life expectancy. The longer-lived BXD strains had comparatively lower entropy at a given age. We identified two genetic loci that modulate epigenetic age acceleration (EAA): one on chromosome (Chr) 11 that encompasses the Erbb2/Her2 oncogenic region, and the other on Chr19 that contains a cytochrome P450 cluster. Both loci harbor genes associated with EAA in humans, including STXBP4, NKX2-3, and CUTC. Transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed correlations with oxidation-reduction, metabolic, and immune response pathways. Our results highlight concordant loci for EAA in humans and mice, and demonstrate a tight coupling between the metabolic state and epigenetic aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khyobeni Mozhui
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of MedicineMemphisUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of MedicineMemphisUnited States
| | - Ake T Lu
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Caesar Z Li
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Amin Haghani
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Jose Vladimir Sandoval-Sierra
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of MedicineMemphisUnited States
| | - Yibo Wu
- YCI Laboratory for Next-Generation Proteomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical SciencesYokohamaJapan
- University of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of MedicineMemphisUnited States
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
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Fan H, Xie Q, Zhang Z, Wang J, Chen X, Qiu P. Chronological Age Prediction: Developmental Evaluation of DNA Methylation-Based Machine Learning Models. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:819991. [PMID: 35141217 PMCID: PMC8819006 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.819991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic clock, a highly accurate age estimator based on DNA methylation (DNAm) level, is the basis for predicting mortality/morbidity and elucidating the molecular mechanism of aging, which is of great significance in forensics, justice, and social life. Herein, we integrated machine learning (ML) algorithms to construct blood epigenetic clock in Southern Han Chinese (CHS) for chronological age prediction. The correlation coefficient (r) meta-analyses of 7,084 individuals were firstly implemented to select five genes (ELOVL2, C1orf132, TRIM59, FHL2, and KLF14) from a candidate set of nine age-associated DNAm biomarkers. The DNAm-based profiles of the CHS cohort (240 blood samples differing in age from 1 to 81 years) were generated by the bisulfite targeted amplicon pyrosequencing (BTA-pseq) from 34 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites (CpGs) of five selected genes, revealing that the methylation levels at different CpGs exhibit population specificity. Furthermore, we established and evaluated four chronological age prediction models using distinct ML algorithms: stepwise regression (SR), support vector regression (SVR-eps and SVR-nu), and random forest regression (RFR). The median absolute deviation (MAD) values increased with chronological age, especially in the 61–81 age category. No apparent gender effect was found in different ML models of the CHS cohort (all p > 0.05). The MAD values were 2.97, 2.22, 2.19, and 1.29 years for SR, SVR-eps, SVR-nu, and RFR in the CHS cohort, respectively. Eventually, compared to the MAD range of the meta cohort (2.53–5.07 years), a promising RFR model (ntree = 500 and mtry = 8) was optimized with an MAD of 1.15 years in the 1–60 age categories of the CHS cohort, which could be regarded as a robust epigenetic clock in blood for age-related issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoliang Fan
- *Correspondence: Haoliang Fan, ; Xuncai Chen, ; Pingming Qiu,
| | | | | | | | - Xuncai Chen
- *Correspondence: Haoliang Fan, ; Xuncai Chen, ; Pingming Qiu,
| | - Pingming Qiu
- *Correspondence: Haoliang Fan, ; Xuncai Chen, ; Pingming Qiu,
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Seligman BJ, Berry SD, Lipsitz LA, Travison TG, Kiel DP. Epigenetic Age Acceleration and Change in Frailty in MOBILIZE Boston. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77:1760-1765. [PMID: 35037036 PMCID: PMC9434439 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-associated changes in DNA methylation have been implicated as 1 mechanism to explain the development of frailty; however, previous cross-sectional studies of epigenetic age acceleration (eAA) and frailty have had inconsistent findings. Few longitudinal studies have considered the association of eAA with change in frailty. We sought to determine the association between eAA and change in frailty in the MOBILIZE Boston cohort. Participants were assessed at 2 visits 12-18 months apart. Intrinsic, extrinsic, GrimAge, and PhenoAge eAA were assessed from whole-blood DNA methylation at baseline using the Infinium 450k array. Frailty was assessed by a continuous frailty score based on the frailty phenotype and by frailty index (FI). Analysis was by correlation and linear regression with adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, and body mass index. Three hundred and ninety-five participants with a frailty score and 431 with an FI had epigenetic and follow-up frailty measures. Mean (standard deviation) ages were 77.8 (5.49) and 77.9 (5.47) for the frailty score and the FI cohorts respectively, and 232 (58.7%) and 257 (59.6%) were female. All participants with epigenetic data identified as White. Baseline frailty score was not correlated with intrinsic or extrinsic eAA, but was correlated with PhenoAge and, even after adjustment for covariates, GrimAge. Baseline FI was correlated with extrinsic, GrimAge, and PhenoAge eAA with and without adjustment. No eAA measure was associated with change in frailty, with or without adjustment. Our results suggest that no eAA measure was associated with change in frailty. Further studies should consider longer periods of follow-up and repeated eAA measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Seligman
- Address correspondence to: Benjamin J. Seligman, MD, PhD, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, 1100 Glendon Avenue, 710–714, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. E-mail:
| | - Sarah D Berry
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lewis A Lipsitz
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas G Travison
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Douglas P Kiel
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Malyutina S, Chervova O, Tillmann T, Maximov V, Ryabikov A, Gafarov V, Hubacek JA, Pikhart H, Beck S, Bobak M. The Relationship between Epigenetic Age and Myocardial Infarction/Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12010110. [PMID: 35055425 PMCID: PMC8781885 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the relationship between ‘epigenetic age’ (EA) derived from DNA methylation (DNAm) and myocardial infarction (MI)/acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A random population sample was examined in 2003/2005 (n = 9360, 45–69, the HAPIEE project) and followed up for 15 years. From this cohort, incident MI/ACS (cases, n = 129) and age- and sex-stratified controls (n = 177) were selected for a nested case-control study. Baseline EA (Horvath’s, Hannum’s, PhenoAge, Skin and Blood) and the differences between EA and chronological age (CA) were calculated (ΔAHr, ΔAHn, ΔAPh, ΔASB). EAs by Horvath’s, Hannum’s and Skin and Blood were close to CA (median absolute difference, MAD, of 1.08, –1.91 and –2.03 years); PhenoAge had MAD of −9.29 years vs. CA. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of MI/ACS per 1–year increments of ΔAHr, ΔAHn, ΔASB and ΔAPh were 1.01 (95% CI 0.95–1.07), 1.01 (95% CI 0.95–1.08), 1.02 (95% CI 0.97–1.06) and 1.01 (0.93–1.09), respectively. When classified into tertiles, only the highest tertile of ΔAPh showed a suggestion of increased risk of MI/ACS with OR 2.09 (1.11–3.94) independent of age and 1.84 (0.99–3.52) in the age- and sex-adjusted model. Metabolic modulation may be the likely mechanism of this association. In conclusion, this case-control study nested in a prospective population-based cohort did not find strong associations between accelerated epigenetic age markers and risk of MI/ACS. Larger cohort studies are needed to re-examine this important research question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Malyutina
- Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine-Branch of Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630089 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.M.); (A.R.); (V.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-913-929-33-63
| | - Olga Chervova
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (O.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Taavi Tillmann
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK;
| | - Vladimir Maximov
- Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine-Branch of Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630089 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.M.); (A.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Andrew Ryabikov
- Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine-Branch of Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630089 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.M.); (A.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Valery Gafarov
- Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine-Branch of Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630089 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.M.); (A.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Jaroslav A. Hubacek
- Experimental Medicine Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 14021 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Hynek Pikhart
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (H.P.); (M.B.)
| | - Stephan Beck
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (O.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Martin Bobak
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (H.P.); (M.B.)
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43
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Affiliation(s)
- Cavin K Ward-Caviness
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC
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44
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Berg MT, Rogers EM, Lei MK, Simons RL. Losing Years Doing Time: Incarceration Exposure and Accelerated Biological Aging among African American Adults. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 62:460-476. [PMID: 34698583 DOI: 10.1177/00221465211052568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that incarceration exposure increases the prevalence of morbidity and premature mortality. This work is only beginning to examine whether the stressors of the incarceration experience become biologically embedded in ways that affect physiological deterioration. Using data from a longitudinal sample of 410 African American adults in the Family and Community Health Study and an epigenetic index of aging, this study tests the extent to which incarceration accelerates epigenetic aging and whether experiences with violence moderate this association. Results from models that adjust for selection effects suggest that incarceration exposure predicted accelerated aging, leaving formerly incarcerated African American individuals biologically older than their calendar age. Direct experiences with violence also exacerbated the effects of incarceration. These findings suggest that incarceration possibly triggers a stress response that affects a biological signature of physiological deterioration.
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45
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Association of lifestyle with mortality and the mediating role of aging among older adults in China. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2021; 98:104559. [PMID: 34741896 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES 1) examine the association between lifestyle and mortality; 2) examine the association between two aging measures and mortality; 3) evaluate the mediating effect of the two aging measures on the association between lifestyle and mortality among older Chinese adults. METHODS We used data from 2039 older adults (≥ 65 years) from the 2011/2012 biomarker substudy of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We created a healthy lifestyle index based on 5 factors (exercise, smoking, drinking, diet, and BMI, range: 0-5). We calculated two aging measures, the Klemera and Doubal method-biological age (KDM-BA) and physiological dysregulation (PD), based on 10 blood-based biomarkers using algorithms developed previously. A Cox proportional hazards model, general linear regression model, and formal mediation analysis were performed. RESULTS After adjustment for age and sex, compared to participants without any healthy lifestyle factors, those with 5 healthy lifestyle factors had an 85% lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04, 0.60). PD, but not KDM-BA, was significantly associated with mortality (HR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.29). The healthy lifestyle index was negatively associated with PD (β = -0.021, P = 0.012). PD mediated 9% (95% CI: 1%, 52%, P = 0.043) of the total effect of the healthy lifestyle index on mortality. CONCLUSIONS In the older Chinese population, healthy lifestyle reduces mortality risk and aging partially mediates this association. The findings highlight the importance of adherence to a healthy lifestyle for promoting phenotypic aging even in late life.
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46
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Do WL, Gohar J, McCullough LE, Galaviz KI, Conneely KN, Narayan KMV. Examining the association between adiposity and DNA methylation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2021; 22:e13319. [PMID: 34278703 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is associated with widespread differential DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns, though there have been limited overlap in the obesity-associated cytosine-guanine nucleotide pair (CpG) sites that have been identified in the literature. We systematically searched four databases for studies published until January 2020. Eligible studies included cross-sectional, longitudinal, or intervention studies examining adiposity and genome-wide DNAm in non-pregnant adults aged 18-75 in all tissue types. Study design and results were extracted in the descriptive review. Blood-based DNAm results in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were meta-analyzed using weighted sum of Z-score meta-analysis. Of the 10,548 studies identified, 46 studies were included in the systematic review with 18 and nine studies included in the meta-analysis of BMI and WC, respectively. In the blood, 77 and four CpG sites were significant in three or more studies of BMI and WC, respectively. Using a genome-wide threshold for significance, 52 blood-based CpG sites were significantly associated with BMI. These sites have previously been associated with many obesity-related diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, and depression. Our study shows that DNAm at 52 CpG sites represent potential mediators of obesity-associated chronic diseases and may be novel intervention or therapeutic targets to protect against obesity-associated chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney L Do
- Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jazib Gohar
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lauren E McCullough
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karla I Galaviz
- Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Karen N Conneely
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - K M Venkat Narayan
- Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Föhr T, Törmäkangas T, Lankila H, Viljanen A, Rantanen T, Ollikainen M, Kaprio J, Sillanpää E. The association between epigenetic clocks and physical functioning in older women: a three-year follow-up. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 77:1569-1576. [PMID: 34543398 PMCID: PMC9373966 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic clocks are composite markers developed to predict chronological age or mortality risk from DNA methylation (DNAm) data. The present study investigated the associations between 4 epigenetic clocks (Horvath’s and Hannum’s DNAmAge and DNAm GrimAge and PhenoAge) and physical functioning during a 3-year follow-up. Method We studied 63- to 76-year-old women (N = 413) from the Finnish Twin Study on Aging. DNAm was measured from blood samples at baseline. Age acceleration (AgeAccel), that is, discrepancy between chronological age and DNAm age, was determined as residuals from linear model. Physical functioning was assessed under standardized laboratory conditions at baseline and at follow-up. A cross-sectional analysis was performed with path models, and a longitudinal analysis was conducted with repeated measures linear models. A nonrandom missing data analysis was performed. Results In comparison to the other clocks, GrimAgeAccel was more strongly associated with physical functioning. At baseline, GrimAgeAccel was associated with lower performance in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the 6-minute walk test. At follow-up, significant associations were observed between GrimAgeAccel and lowered performance in the TUG, 6-minute and 10-m walk tests, and knee extension and ankle plantar flexion strength tests. Conclusions The DNAm GrimAge, a novel estimate of biological aging, associated with decline in physical functioning over the 3-year follow-up in older women. However, associations between chronological age and physical function phenotypes followed similar pattern. Current epigenetic clocks do not provide strong benefits in predicting the decline of physical functioning at least during a rather short follow-up period and restricted age range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Föhr
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Timo Törmäkangas
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Hannamari Lankila
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Anne Viljanen
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Taina Rantanen
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Miina Ollikainen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Sillanpää
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Stubbings G, Rockwood K, Mitnitski A, Rutenberg A. A quantile frailty index without dichotomization. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 199:111570. [PMID: 34517019 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
measures of health quantify the aging process of individuals. They should be interpretable, associated with future adverse outcomes, and straightforward to assemble. We use the rank-ordering of risk within a population to construct a quantile frailty index (QFI) that avoids dichotomization, is convenient and interpretable, and is associated with adverse outcomes. We show that the QFI outperforms previous frailty index (FI) measures on cross-sectional laboratory data (NHANES, CSHA, and ELSA). We construct the QFI by ranking the risk of individuals with respect to a reference population. Sex-specific reference populations narrow male-female FI differences as a function of age, and improve predictive performance. With a fixed reference population of 80-85 year olds, our QFI appears similar to earlier FI measures. With an age-matched reference population for each individual, we obtain a QFI that contains very little age information and that has similar predictive performance as other age-controlled FI measures. Adding age as an auxiliary variable leads to significantly better performance. We conclude that age should be controlled for when evaluating the predictive performance of summary measures of health. This is straight-forward to do with the QFI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett Stubbings
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4R2
| | - Kenneth Rockwood
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 2E1
| | - Arnold Mitnitski
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 2E1
| | - Andrew Rutenberg
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4R2.
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Fransquet PD, Lacaze P, Saffery R, Shah RC, Vryer R, Murray A, Woods RL, Ryan J. Accelerated Epigenetic Aging in Peripheral Blood does not Predict Dementia Risk. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 18:443-451. [PMID: 34429046 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666210823100721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is strong evidence that epigenetic age acceleration is associated with increased risk of later-life diseases and all-cause mortality. However, there is currently limited evidence that suggests accelerated epigenetic age is associated with dementia risk. OBJECTIVE This study aims to clarify whether epigenetic biomarkers of accelerated aging can predict dementia risk, which is an important consideration as aging is the greatest risk factor for the disease. METHODS DNA methylation was measured in peripheral blood samples provided by 160 participants from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly study, including 73 pre-symptomatic dementia cases and 87 controls matched for age, sex, and smoking and education status. Epigenetic age was calculated using Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge and PhenoAge DNA methylation clocks, and age acceleration (the disparity between chronological age and epigenetic age) was determined. RESULTS There was no difference in age acceleration between dementia cases and controls. In males, only Hannum's intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration was increased in pre-symptomatic dementia cases compared to controls (Δ +1.8 years, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION These findings provide no strong evidence that accelerated epigenetic aging measured in peripheral blood can predict dementia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Fransquet
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - P Lacaze
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - R Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia
| | - R C Shah
- Department of Family Medicine and Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - R Vryer
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia
| | - A Murray
- Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Hennepin Healthcare, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - R L Woods
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Victoria, Australia
| | - J Ryan
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Victoria, Australia
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50
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Maddock J, Castillo-Fernandez J, Wong A, Ploubidis GB, Kuh D, Bell JT, Hardy R. Childhood growth and development and DNA methylation age in mid-life. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:155. [PMID: 34372922 PMCID: PMC8351141 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the first study of its kind, we examine the association between growth and development in early life and DNAm age biomarkers in mid-life. METHODS Participants were from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (n = 1376). Four DNAm age acceleration (AgeAccel) biomarkers were measured when participants were aged 53 years: AgeAccelHannum; AgeAccelHorvath; AgeAccelLevine; and AgeAccelGrim. Exposure variables included: relative weight gain (standardised residuals from models of current weight z-score on current height, and previous weight and height z-scores); and linear growth (standardised residuals from models of current height z-score on previous height and weight z-scores) during infancy (0-2 years, weight gain only), early childhood (2-4 years), middle childhood (4-7 years) and late childhood to adolescence (7-15 years); age at menarche; and pubertal stage for men at 14-15 years. The relationship between relative weight gain and linear growth and AgeAccel was investigated using conditional growth models. We replicated analyses from the late childhood to adolescence period and pubertal timing among 240 participants from The National Child and Development Study (NCDS). RESULTS A 1SD increase in relative weight gain in late childhood to adolescence was associated with 0.50 years (95% CI 0.20, 0.79) higher AgeAccelGrim. Although the CI includes the null, the estimate was similar in NCDS [0.57 years (95% CI - 0.01, 1.16)] There was no strong evidence that relative weight gain and linear growth in childhood was associated with any other AgeAccel biomarker. There was no relationship between pubertal timing in men and AgeAccel biomarkers. Women who reached menarche ≥ 12 years had 1.20 years (95% CI 0.15, 2.24) higher AgeAccelGrim on average than women who reached menarche < 12 years; however, this was not replicated in NCDS and was not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSIONS Our findings generally do not support an association between growth and AgeAccel biomarkers in mid-life. However, we found rapid weight gain during pubertal development, previously related to higher cardiovascular disease risk, to be associated with older AgeAccelGrim. Given this is an exploratory study, this finding requires replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Maddock
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
| | | | - Andrew Wong
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - George B Ploubidis
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Diana Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Jordana T Bell
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Hardy
- CLOSER, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, WC1H 0NU, UK
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