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Pilkay S, Riffer A, Carroll A. Trauma context exerts intergenerational effects on child mental health via DNA methylation. Epigenetics 2024; 19:2333654. [PMID: 38577817 PMCID: PMC11000619 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2333654] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Many people experience traumatic or negative events, but few develop mental health issues as a result. This study investigated whether newborn DNA methylation (DNAm) previously associated with maternal childhood physical abuse by her father affected the child's mental health and physical growth, as well as whether it mediated or moderated developmental outcomes. METHODS Study sample (N = 903) and data came from Bristol University's Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. DNAm was measured in cord blood at birth. DNAm data was preprocessed, normalized, and quality controlled before subsetting to 60 CpG sites of interest from previous research. Linear regression analysis examined newborn DNAm and child development outcome associations. Sobel test examined the mediating relationship between mother's history of childhood abuse by father, newborn targeted gene DNAm of significant CpG sites, and child's mental health and physical growth. Moderation analyses examined the interaction effects between the significant CpG sites and mothers' physical abuse by their fathers on child's mental health and physical growth. RESULTS Full cohort analyses showed that newborn DNAm of several different CpG sites associates with separation anxiety, fear, and unhappy/tearful presentations in children aged 6-7 y. Sex-specific associations emerged with boys showing associations with anxiety and fear, and girls showing associations with fear and unhappiness. In boys only, cord blood DNAm mediates the effect of maternal childhood trauma on offspring mental health. No moderation effects emerged. CONCLUSION Intergenerational effects of mother's relationship to her abuser present in newborn DNAm associate with 7-year-old child's mental health, show sex-specific effects, and newborn DNAm does mediate maternal childhood trauma effects on offspring mental health in early-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Pilkay
- Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, School of Social Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NYUSA
| | - Andie Riffer
- Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Andrew Carroll
- Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, School of Social Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NYUSA
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Klopack ET, Crimmins EM. Epigenetic Aging Helps Explain Differential Resilience in Older Adults. Demography 2024; 61:1023-1041. [PMID: 39012228 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11466635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Past research suggests that resilience to health hazards increases with age, potentially because less resilient individuals die at earlier ages, leaving behind their more resilient peers. Using lifetime cigarette smoking as a model health hazard, we examined whether accelerated epigenetic aging (indicating differences in the speed of individuals' underlying aging process) helps explain age-related resilience in a nationally representative sample of 3,783 older U.S. adults from the Health and Retirement Study. Results of mediation moderation analyses indicated that participants aged 86 or older showed a weaker association between lifetime cigarette smoking and mortality relative to participants aged 76-85 and a weaker association between smoking and multimorbidity relative to all younger cohorts. This moderation effect was mediated by a reduced association between smoking pack-years and epigenetic aging. This research helps identify subpopulations of particularly resilient individuals and identifies epigenetic aging as a potential mechanism explaining this process. Interventions in younger adults could utilize epigenetic aging estimates to identify the most vulnerable individuals and intervene before adverse health outcomes, such as chronic disease morbidity or mortality, manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Klopack
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eileen M Crimmins
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Surachman A, Hamlat E, Zannas AS, Horvath S, Laraia B, Epel E. Grandparents' educational attainment is associated with grandchildren's epigenetic-based age acceleration in the National Growth and Health Study. Soc Sci Med 2024; 355:117142. [PMID: 39106784 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117142] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
We examined three generations (grandparents, mothers, and grandchildren) to assess the association between grandparents' educational attainment and their grandchildren's epigenetic-based age acceleration and whether the association was mediated by parental educational attainment and mothers' life course health-related factors. Mothers were recruited to the NHLBI Growth and Health Study at 9-10 years and followed for 10 years (1987-1998). Mothers were then re-contacted three decades later (ages 37-42) to participate in the National Growth and Health Study (NGHS), and health information from their youngest child (i.e., grandchildren; N = 241, ages 2-17) was collected, including their saliva samples to calculate epigenetic age. Five epigenetic-based age acceleration measures were included in this analysis, including four epigenetic clock age accelerations (Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, and PhenoAge) and DunedinPACE. Grandparents reported their highest education during the initial enrollment interviews. Parental educational attainment and mothers' life course health-related factors (childhood BMI trajectories, adult cardiovascular health behavioral risk score, and adult c-reactive protein) are included as mediators. Grandparents' education was significantly associated with Horvath age acceleration (b = -0.32, SE = 0.14, p = 0.021). Grandchildren with college-degree grandparents showed significantly slower Horvath age accelerations than those without college degrees. This association was partially mediated by parental education and mothers' health-related factors, especially adult cardiovascular health behavioral risk score and CRP, but not mothers' childhood BMI trajectory. This ability to conserve the speed of biological aging may have considerable consequences in shaping health trajectories across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agus Surachman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA; College of Nursing and Health Profession, Drexel University, USA.
| | - Elissa Hamlat
- Center for Health and Community, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Anthony S Zannas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, USA; The Altos Institutes of Science, San Diego, USA
| | - Barbara Laraia
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Elissa Epel
- Center for Health and Community, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
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4
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Apsley AT, Ye Q, Caspi A, Chiaro C, Etzel L, Hastings WJ, Heim CC, Kozlosky J, Noll JG, Schreier HMC, Shenk CE, Sugden K, Shalev I. Cross-Tissue Comparison of Epigenetic Aging Clocks in Humans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.16.603774. [PMID: 39071385 PMCID: PMC11275734 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.16.603774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic clocks are a common group of tools used to measure biological aging - the progressive deterioration of cells, tissues and organs. Epigenetic clocks have been trained almost exclusively using blood-based tissues but there is growing interest in estimating epigenetic age using less-invasive oral-based tissues (i.e., buccal or saliva) in both research and commercial settings. However, differentiated cell types across body tissues exhibit unique DNA methylation landscapes and age-related alterations to the DNA methylome. Applying epigenetic clocks derived from blood-based tissues to estimate epigenetic age of oral-based tissues may introduce biases. We tested the within-person comparability of common epigenetic clocks across five tissue types: buccal epithelial, saliva, dry blood spots, buffy coat (i.e., leukocytes), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We tested 284 distinct tissue samples from 83 individuals aged 9-70 years. Overall, there were significant within-person differences in epigenetic clock estimates from oral-based versus blood-based tissues, with average differences of almost 30 years observed in some age clocks. In addition, most epigenetic clock estimates of blood-based tissues exhibited low correlation with estimates from oral-based tissues despite controlling for cellular proportions and other technical factors. Our findings indicate that application of blood-derived epigenetic clocks in oral-based tissues may not yield comparable estimates of epigenetic age, highlighting the need for careful consideration of tissue type when estimating epigenetic age.
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Pilkay SR, Knight AK, Bush NR, LeWinn K, Davis RL, Tylavsky F, Smith AK. Poverty and neighborhood opportunity effects on neonate DNAm developmental age. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306452. [PMID: 38995877 PMCID: PMC11244791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children from families with low socioeconomic status (SES), as determined by income, experience several negative outcomes, such as higher rates of newborn mortality and behavioral issues. Moreover, associations between DNA methylation and low income or poverty status are evident beginning at birth, suggesting prenatal influences on offspring development. Recent evidence suggests neighborhood opportunities may protect against some of the health consequences of living in low income households. The goal of this study was to assess whether neighborhood opportunities moderate associations between household income (HI) and neonate developmental maturity as measured with DNA methylation. METHODS Umbilical cord blood DNA methylation data was available in 198 mother-neonate pairs from the larger CANDLE cohort. Gestational age acceleration was calculated using an epigenetic clock designed for neonates. Prenatal HI and neighborhood opportunities measured with the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) were regressed on gestational age acceleration controlling for sex, race, and cellular composition. RESULTS Higher HI was associated with higher gestational age acceleration (B = .145, t = 4.969, p = 1.56x10-6, 95% CI [.087, .202]). Contrary to expectation, an interaction emerged showing higher neighborhood educational opportunity was associated with lower gestational age acceleration at birth for neonates with mothers living in moderate to high HI (B = -.048, t = -2.08, p = .03, 95% CI [-.092, -.002]). Female neonates showed higher gestational age acceleration at birth compared to males. However, within males, being born into neighborhoods with higher social and economic opportunity was associated with higher gestational age acceleration. CONCLUSION Prenatal HI and neighborhood qualities may affect gestational age acceleration at birth. Therefore, policy makers should consider neighborhood qualities as one opportunity to mitigate prenatal developmental effects of HI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie R Pilkay
- School of Social Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Anna K Knight
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Kaja LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Robert L Davis
- Health and Science Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Frances Tylavsky
- Health and Science Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta Georgia, United States of America
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Bourassa KJ, Sbarra DA. Trauma, adversity, and biological aging: behavioral mechanisms relevant to treatment and theory. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:285. [PMID: 38997260 PMCID: PMC11245531 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03004-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Although stress and adversity are largely universal experiences, people exposed to greater hardship are at increased risk for negative health consequences. Recent studies identify accelerated biological aging as a mechanism that could explain how trauma and adversity gives rise to poor health, and advances in this area of study coincide with technological innovations in the measurement of biological aging, particularly epigenetic profiles consistent with accelerated aging derived from DNA methylation. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature examining how adversity might accelerate biological aging, with a specific focus on social and health behaviors. The most extensive evidence in this area suggests that health-compromising behaviors, particularly smoking, may partially explain the association between adversity and accelerated aging. Although there is relatively less published support for the role of social behaviors, emerging evidence points to the importance of social connection as a mechanism for future study. Our review highlights the need to determine the extent to which the associations from adversity to accelerated aging are consistent with causal processes. As we consider these questions, the review emphasizes methodological approaches from the causal inference literature that can help deepen our understanding of how stress and trauma might result in poor health. The use of these methodologies will help provide evidence as to which behavioral interventions might slow aging and improve health, particularly among populations that more often experience adversity and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Bourassa
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veteran Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA.
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - David A Sbarra
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Merrill SM, Hogan C, Bozack AK, Cardenas A, Comer JS, Bagner DM, Highlander A, Parent J. Telehealth Parenting Program and Salivary Epigenetic Biomarkers in Preschool Children With Developmental Delay: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2424815. [PMID: 39073812 PMCID: PMC11287424 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.24815] [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] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Children with developmental delays are at a heightened risk of experiencing mental health challenges, and this risk is exacerbated among racially minoritized children who face disproportionate adversity. Understanding the impact of parenting interventions on biological markers associated with these risks is crucial for mitigating long-term health disparities. Objective To examine the effect of 20 weeks of an internet-based parent-child interaction training (iPCIT) program on biomarkers associated with aging and chronic inflammation among preschoolers with developmental delay at 12-month follow-up. Design, Setting, and Participants An observational secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial conducted from March 17, 2016, to December 15, 2020, to assess changes in salivary DNA methylation (DNAm)-derived biomarkers following iPCIT intervention. Participants were recruited from 3 Part C early intervention sites in a large southeastern US city. Eligible participants included children recruited within 3 months of their third birthday who had a Child Behavior Checklist Externalizing Problems T score greater than 60 and provided saliva in at least 1 study wave. Data analysis was conducted May 2023 to April 2024. Intervention Participants received either iPCIT (a telehealth therapeutic intervention focused on enhancing the parent-child relationship and addressing behavioral challenges in young children) or referrals as usual. Main Outcomes and Measures DNAm at the 12-month follow-up was assessed using the Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC Bead Chip Assay to derive biomarkers DunedinPACE, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Analyses were intent-to-treat and used path analysis. Results A total of 71 children (mean [SD] age, 36.27 [0.61] months 51 male [71.8%] and 20 female [28.2%]) were analyzed, of whom 34 received iPCIT and 37 received referrals as usual. The iPCIT group had a slower pace of aging (β = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.50; P = .03) and less DNAm-derived CRP (β = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.49; P = .01) relative to the control condition at the 12-month follow-up. These associations remained significant after accounting for baseline DNAm score, child demographics, and symptom severity, and were independent of predicted buccal epithelial cell proportion for both DunedinPACE and CRP. There was no association with DNAm-derived IL-6 (β = 0.14; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.36; P = .21). Conclusions and Relevance In this study of a parenting intervention, iPCIT, the association of intervention with decreased molecular markers of inflammation and biological aging suggests their potential to modify aspects of the biological embedding of stress. Understanding the systemic biological impact of such interventions offers insights into addressing health disparities and promoting resilience among vulnerable populations. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03260816.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Christina Hogan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
| | - Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | | | - Daniel M. Bagner
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami
| | - April Highlander
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Justin Parent
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
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Martínez-Magaña JJ, Hurtado-Soriano J, Rivero-Segura NA, Montalvo-Ortiz JL, Garcia-delaTorre P, Becerril-Rojas K, Gomez-Verjan JC. Towards a Novel Frontier in the Use of Epigenetic Clocks in Epidemiology. Arch Med Res 2024; 55:103033. [PMID: 38955096 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.103033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Health problems associated with aging are a major public health concern for the future. Aging is a complex process with wide intervariability among individuals. Therefore, there is a need for innovative public health strategies that target factors associated with aging and the development of tools to assess the effectiveness of these strategies accurately. Novel approaches to measure biological age, such as epigenetic clocks, have become relevant. These clocks use non-sequential variable information from the genome and employ mathematical algorithms to estimate biological age based on DNA methylation levels. Therefore, in the present study, we comprehensively review the current status of the epigenetic clocks and their associations across the human phenome. We emphasize the potential utility of these tools in an epidemiological context, particularly in evaluating the impact of public health interventions focused on promoting healthy aging. Our review describes associations between epigenetic clocks and multiple traits across the life and health span. Additionally, we highlighted the evolution of studies beyond mere associations to establish causal mechanisms between epigenetic age and disease. We explored the application of epigenetic clocks to measure the efficacy of interventions focusing on rejuvenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Jaime Martínez-Magaña
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neuroscience Division, West Haven, CT, USA; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Janitza L Montalvo-Ortiz
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neuroscience Division, West Haven, CT, USA; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paola Garcia-delaTorre
- Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica y en Servicios de Salud, Área de Envejecimiento, Centro Médico Nacional, Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
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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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Cheng M, Conley D, Kuipers T, Li C, Ryan CP, Taeubert MJ, Wang S, Wang T, Zhou J, Schmitz LL, Tobi EW, Heijmans B, Lumey LH, Belsky DW. Accelerated biological aging six decades after prenatal famine exposure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319179121. [PMID: 38833467 PMCID: PMC11181019 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319179121] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that early-life adversity accelerates the pace of biological aging, we analyzed data from the Dutch Hunger Winter Families Study (DHWFS, N = 951). DHWFS is a natural-experiment birth-cohort study of survivors of in-utero exposure to famine conditions caused by the German occupation of the Western Netherlands in Winter 1944 to 1945, matched controls, and their siblings. We conducted DNA methylation analysis of blood samples collected when the survivors were aged 58 to quantify biological aging using the DunedinPACE, GrimAge, and PhenoAge epigenetic clocks. Famine survivors had faster DunedinPACE, as compared with controls. This effect was strongest among women. Results were similar for GrimAge, although effect-sizes were smaller. We observed no differences in PhenoAge between survivors and controls. Famine effects were not accounted for by blood-cell composition and were similar for individuals exposed early and later in gestation. Findings suggest in-utero undernutrition may accelerate biological aging in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengling Cheng
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, LausanneCH 1015, Switzerland
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Dalton Conley
- Department of Sociology, Princeton University, Mercer, NJ08544
| | - Tom Kuipers
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, LeidenZC 2333, Netherlands
| | - Chihua Li
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI48106
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY10032
| | - Calen P. Ryan
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - M. Jazmin Taeubert
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, LeidenZC 2333, Netherlands
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY10032
| | - Tian Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY10032
| | - Jiayi Zhou
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Lauren L. Schmitz
- Center for Demography and Ecology, Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Elmar W. Tobi
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, LeidenZC 2333, Netherlands
| | - Bas Heijmans
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, LeidenZC 2333, Netherlands
| | - L. H. Lumey
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, LeidenZC 2333, Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY10032
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY10032
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11
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Pantell MS, Silveira PP, de Mendonça Filho EJ, Wing H, Brown EM, Keeton VF, Pokhvisneva I, O'Donnell KJ, Neuhaus J, Hessler D, Meaney MJ, Adler NE, Gottlieb LM. Associations between Social Adversity and Biomarkers of Inflammation, Stress, and Aging in Children. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:1553-1563. [PMID: 38233512 PMCID: PMC11126389 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior work has found relationships between childhood social adversity and biomarkers of stress, but knowledge gaps remain. To help address these gaps, we explored associations between social adversity and biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], and salivary cytokine hierarchical "clusters" based on the three interleukins), neuroendocrine function (cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and progesterone), neuromodulation (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, stearoylethanolamine, oleoylethanolamide, and palmitoylethanolamide), and epigenetic aging (Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic clock). METHODS We collected biomarker samples of children ages 0-17 recruited from an acute care pediatrics clinic and examined their associations with caregiver-endorsed education, income, social risk factors, and cumulative adversity. We calculated regression-adjusted means for each biomarker and compared associations with social factors using Wald tests. We used logistic regression to predict being in the highest cytokine cluster based on social predictors. RESULTS Our final sample included 537 children but varied based on each biomarker. Cumulative social adversity was significantly associated with having higher levels of all inflammatory markers and with cortisol, displaying a U-shaped distribution. There were no significant relationships between cumulative social adversity and cortisone, neuromodulation biomarkers or epigenetic aging. CONCLUSION Our findings support prior work suggesting that social stress exposures contribute to increased inflammation in children. IMPACT Our study is one of the largest studies examining associations between childhood social adversity and biomarkers of inflammation, neuroendocrine function, neuromodulation, and epigenetic aging. It is one of the largest studies to link childhood social adversity to biomarkers of inflammation, and the first of which we are aware to link cumulative social adversity to cytokine clusters. It is also one of the largest studies to examine associations between steroids and epigenetic aging among children, and one of the only studies of which we are aware to examine associations between social adversity and endocannabinoids among children. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02746393.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Pantell
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Patricia P Silveira
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Douglas Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Euclides José de Mendonça Filho
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Douglas Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Holly Wing
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Victoria F Keeton
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois St, Box 2930, 94143, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Douglas Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Douglas Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Yale Child Study Center & Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - John Neuhaus
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Danielle Hessler
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Douglas Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Nancy E Adler
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura M Gottlieb
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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12
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Holuka C, Menta G, Caro JC, Vögele C, D'Ambrosio C, Turner JD. Developmental epigenomic effects of maternal financial problems. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38654405 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942400083x] [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: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Early-life adversity as neglect or low socioeconomic status is associated with negative physical/mental health outcomes and plays an important role in health trajectories through life. The early-life environment has been shown to be encoded as changes in epigenetic markers that are retained for many years.We investigated the effect of maternal major financial problems (MFP) and material deprivation (MD) on their children's epigenome in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Epigenetic aging, measured with epigenetic clocks, was weakly accelerated with increased MFP. In subsequent EWAS, MFP, and MD showed strong, independent programing effects on children's genomes. MFP in the period from birth to age seven was associated with genome-wide epigenetic modifications on children's genome visible at age 7 and partially remaining at age 15.These results support the hypothesis that physiological processes at least partially explain associations between early-life adversity and health problems later in life. Both maternal stressors (MFP/MD) had similar effects on biological pathways, providing preliminary evidence for the mechanisms underlying the effects of low socioeconomic status in early life and disease outcomes later in life. Understanding these associations is essential to explain disease susceptibility, overall life trajectories and the transition from health to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrielle Holuka
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - Giorgia Menta
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Juan Carlos Caro
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de Concepcion, Talcahuano, Chile
| | - Claus Vögele
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Conchita D'Ambrosio
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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13
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Martz CD, Benner AD, Goosby BJ, Mitchell C, Gaydosh L. Structural racism in primary schools and changes in epigenetic age acceleration among Black and White youth. Soc Sci Med 2024; 347:116724. [PMID: 38458127 PMCID: PMC11134904 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116724] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Structural racism generates racial inequities in U.S. primary education, including segregated schools, inequitable funding and resources, racial disparities in discipline and achievement, and hostile racial climates, which are risk factors for adverse youth health and development. Black youth are disproportionately exposed to adverse school contexts that may become biologically embedded via stress-mediated epigenetic pathways. This study examined whether childhood exposure to adverse school contexts is associated with changes in epigenetic aging during adolescent development. DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks were calculated from saliva samples at ages 9 and 15 among Black (n = 774) and White (n = 287) youth in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (2009-2015). We performed latent class analyses to identify race-specific primary school contexts using administrative data on segregation, discipline, achievement, resources, economic disadvantage, and racial harassment. We then estimated change in epigenetic age acceleration from childhood to adolescence across school typologies using GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE epigenetic clocks. Three distinct school contexts were identified for Black youth: segregated and highly-disadvantaged (17.0%), segregated and moderately-disadvantaged (52.1%), and integrated and moderately-disadvantaged (30.8%). Two school contexts emerged for White youth: integrated and unequal (46.5%) and predominantly White & advantaged (53.5%). At age 15, Black youth who attended segregated and highly-disadvantaged primary schools experienced increases in their speed of epigenetic aging with GrimAge and DunedinPACE. Slowed epigenetic aging with GrimAge was observed for Black youth who attended integrated and moderately-disadvantaged schools. School contexts were not associated with changes in epigenetic age acceleration for White youth. Our findings suggest that manifestations of structural racism in primary school contexts are associated with early-life epigenetic age acceleration and may forecast future health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor D Martz
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, United States.
| | - Aprile D Benner
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Bridget J Goosby
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Lauren Gaydosh
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin, United States
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14
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Aikins M, Willems Y, Mitchell C, Goosby B, Raffington L. Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health and epigenetic biological aging across childhood and adolescence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.26.586786. [PMID: 38586008 PMCID: PMC10996608 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.26.586786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Marginalization due to structural racism may confer an increased risk for aging-related diseases - in part - via effects on people's mental health. Here we leverage a prospective birth cohort study to examine whether the emergence of racial disparities in mental health and DNA-methylation measures of biological aging (i.e., DunedinPACE, GrimAge Acceleration, PhenoAge Acceleration) are linked across childhood and adolescence. We further consider to what extent racial disparities are statistically accounted for by perinatal and postnatal factors in preregistered analyses of N=4,898 participants from the Future of Families & Child Wellbeing Study, of which N=2,039 had repeated saliva DNA methylation at ages 9 and 15 years. We find that racially marginalized children had higher levels of externalizing and internalizing behaviors and diverging longitudinal internalizing slopes. Black compared to White identifying children, children living in more racially segregated neighborhoods, and racially marginalized children more affected by colorism tended to have higher age-9 levels of biological aging and more biological age acceleration over adolescence. Notably, longitudinal increases in internalizing and externalizing behavior were correlated with longitudinal increases in biological aging. While racial and ethnic disparities in mental health were largely statistically accounted for by socioeconomic variables, racial differences in biological aging were often still visible beyond covariate controls. Our findings indicate that racial disparities in mental health and biological aging are linked and emerge early in life. Programs promoting racial health equity must address the psychological and physical impacts of structural racism in children. Comprehensive measures of racism are lacking in current population cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muna Aikins
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development; Max Planck Institute for Human Development; Berlin, Germany
| | - Yayouk Willems
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development; Max Planck Institute for Human Development; Berlin, Germany
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center of the Institute for Social Research; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Population Studies Center of the Institute for Social Research; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bridget Goosby
- Population Research Center; University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development; Max Planck Institute for Human Development; Berlin, Germany
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15
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Raffington L. Utilizing epigenetics to study the shared nature of development and biological aging across the lifespan. NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2024; 9:24. [PMID: 38509146 PMCID: PMC10954727 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-024-00239-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Recently, biological aging has been quantified in DNA-methylation samples of older adults and applied as so-called "methylation profile scores" (MPSs) in separate target samples, including samples of children. This nascent research indicates that (1) biological aging can be quantified early in the life course, decades before the onset of aging-related disease, (2) is affected by common environmental predictors of childhood development, and (3) shows overlap with "developmental processes" (e.g., puberty). Because the MPSs were computed using algorithms developed in adults, these studies indicate a molecular link between childhood environments, development, and adult biological aging. Yet, if MPSs can be used to connect development and aging, previous research has only traveled one way, deriving MPSs developed in adults and applying them to samples of children. Researchers have not yet quantified epigenetic measures that reflect the pace of child development, and tested whether resulting MPSs are associated with physical and psychological aging. In this perspective I posit that combining measures of biological aging with new quantifications of child development has the power to address fundamental questions about life span: How are development and experience in childhood related to biological aging in adulthood? And what is aging?
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial-Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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16
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Graf GHJ, Aiello AE, Caspi A, Kothari M, Liu H, Moffitt TE, Muennig PA, Ryan CP, Sugden K, Belsky DW. Educational Mobility, Pace of Aging, and Lifespan Among Participants in the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e240655. [PMID: 38427354 PMCID: PMC10907927 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0655] [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] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance People who complete more education live longer lives with better health. New evidence suggests that these benefits operate through a slowed pace of biological aging. If so, measurements of the pace of biological aging could offer intermediate end points for studies of how interventions to promote education will affect healthy longevity. Objective To test the hypothesis that upward educational mobility is associated with a slower pace of biological aging and increased longevity. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study analyzed data from 3 generations of participants in the Framingham Heart Study: (1) the original cohort, enrolled beginning in 1948; (2) the Offspring cohort, enrolled beginning in 1971; and (3) the Gen3 cohort, enrolled beginning in 2002. A 3-generation database was constructed to quantify intergenerational educational mobility. Mobility data were linked with blood DNA-methylation data collected from the Offspring cohort in 2005 to 2008 (n = 1652) and the Gen3 cohort in 2009 to 2011 (n = 1449). Follow-up is ongoing. Data analysis was conducted from June 2022 to November 2023 using data obtained from the National Institutes of Health database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP). Exposure Educational mobility was measured by comparing participants' educational outcomes with those of their parents. Main Outcomes and Measures The pace of biological aging was measured from whole-blood DNA-methylation data using the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock. For comparison purposes, the analysis was repeated using 4 other epigenetic clocks. Survival follow-up was conducted through 2019. Results This study analyzed data from 3101 participants from the Framingham Heart Study; 1652 were in the Offspring cohort (mean [SD] age, 65.57 [9.22] years; 764 [46.2%] male) and 1449 were in the Gen3 cohort (mean [SD] age, 45.38 [7.83] years; 691 [47.7%] male). Participants who were upwardly mobile in educational terms tended to have slower pace of aging in later life (r = -0.18 [95% CI, -0.23 to -0.13]; P < .001). This pattern of association was similar across generations and held in within-family sibling comparisons. There were 402 Offspring cohort participants who died over the follow-up period. Upward educational mobility was associated with lower mortality risk (hazard ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.81 to 0.98]; P = .01). Slower pace of aging accounted for approximately half of this association. Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study's findings support the hypothesis that interventions to promote educational attainment may slow the pace of biological aging and promote longevity. Epigenetic clocks have potential as near-term outcome measures of intervention effects on healthy aging. Experimental evidence is needed to confirm findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria H. J. Graf
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, New York, New York
| | - Allison E. Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, New York, New York
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- PROMENTA, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Meeraj Kothari
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, New York, New York
| | - Hexuan Liu
- School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Terrie E. Moffitt
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- PROMENTA, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A. Muennig
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Calen P. Ryan
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, New York, New York
| | - Karen Sugden
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, New York, New York
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17
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MUENNIG PETER, BELSKY DANIELW, MALINSKY DANIEL, NGUYEN KIEU, ROSEN ZOHN, ALLEN HEIDI. The Effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit on Physical and Mental health-Results from the Atlanta Paycheck Plus Experiment. Milbank Q 2024; 102:122-140. [PMID: 37788392 PMCID: PMC10938929 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12675] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Policy Points The Paycheck Plus randomized controlled trial tested a fourfold increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single adults without dependent children over 3 years in New York and Atlanta. In New York, the intervention improved economic, mental, and physical health outcomes. In Atlanta, it had no economic benefit or impact on physical health and may have worsened mental health. In Atlanta, tax filing and bonus receipt were lower than in the New York arm of the trial, which may explain the lack of economic benefits. Lower mental health scores in the treatment group were driven by disadvantaged men, and the study sample was in good mental health. CONTEXT The Paycheck Plus experiment examined the effects of an enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single adults on economic and health outcomes in Atlanta, GA and New York City (NYC). The NYC study was completed two years prior to the Atlanta study and found mental and physical benefits for the subgroups that responded best to the economic incentives provided. In this article, we present the findings from the Atlanta study, in which the uptake of the treatment (tax filings and EITC bonus) were lower and economic and health benefits were not observed. METHODS Paycheck Plus Atlanta was an unblinded randomized controlled trial that assigned n = 3,971 participants to either the standard federal EITC (control group) or an EITC supplement of up to $2,000 (treatment group) for three tax years (2017-2019). Administrative data on employment and earnings were obtained from the Georgia Department of Labor and survey data were used to examine validated measures of health and well-being. FINDINGS In Atlanta, the treatment group had significantly higher earnings in the first project year but did not have significantly higher cumulative earnings than the control group overall (mean difference = $1,812, 95% CI = -150, 3,774, p = 0.07). The treatment group also had significantly lower scores on two measures of mental health after the intervention was complete: the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (mean difference = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.32, p = 0.005) and the Kessler 6 (mean difference = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.27, p = 0.012). Secondary analyses suggested these results were driven by disadvantaged men, but the study sample was in good mental health. CONCLUSIONS The EITC experiment in Atlanta was not associated with gains in earnings or improvements in physical or mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - DANIEL W. BELSKY
- Mailman School of Public HealthColumbia University
- Butler Columbia Aging CenterColumbia University
| | | | | | - ZOHN ROSEN
- Mailman School of Public HealthColumbia University
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18
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Willems YE, deSteiguer A, Tanksley PT, Vinnik L, Fraemke D, Okbay A, Richter D, Wagner GG, Hertwig R, Koellinger P, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP, Raffington L. Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:22. [PMID: 38331797 PMCID: PMC10854186 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01637-7] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here, we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (principal-component PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (PhenoAge Acceleration β = - .34, [- .51, - .17], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration β = - .34, [- .49, - .19], p < .001), but not young adults, adolescents or children. These associations remained statistically robust even after correcting for possible confounders such as socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with self-reported disease (PhenoAge Acceleration: β = .13 [.06, .19], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration: β = .19 [.12, .26], p < .001; DunedinPACE: β = .09 [.02, .17], p = .01). However, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, suggesting that customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y E Willems
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - A deSteiguer
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - P T Tanksley
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - L Vinnik
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - D Fraemke
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Okbay
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Richter
- SHARE Berlin Institute GmbH, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - G G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin, Germany
| | - R Hertwig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - P Koellinger
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E M Tucker-Drob
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - K P Harden
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Mrug S, Barker-Kamps M, Goering M, Patki A, Tiwari HK. Neighborhood Disadvantage and Parenting in Early Adolescence Predict Epigenetic Aging and Mortality Risk in Adulthood. J Youth Adolesc 2024; 53:258-272. [PMID: 37715862 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01863-x] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Youth who grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods experience poorer health later in life, but little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying these effects and socioenvironmental factors that may protect youth from the biological embedding of neighborhood adversity. This study tests whether supportive and consistent parenting buffers associations between neighborhood disadvantage in early adolescence and epigenetic aging in adulthood. A community sample from Birmingham, Alabama, USA (N = 343; 57% female; 81% Black, 19% White) was assessed in early adolescence (T1; ages 11 and 13) and adulthood (T2; age 27). At T1, neighborhood poverty was derived from census data and neighborhood disorder was reported by caregivers. Both youth and parents reported on parental discipline and nurturance. At T2, methylation of salivary DNA was used to derive a mortality risk index and Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge, and GrimAge epigenetic age estimators. Regression analyses revealed that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with accelerated epigenetic aging and/or mortality risk only when combined with high levels of harsh and inconsistent discipline and low child-reported parental nurturance. These findings identify epigenetic aging and mortality risk as relevant mechanisms through which neighborhood adversity experienced in adolescence may affect later health; they also point to the importance of supportive and consistent parenting for reducing the biological embedding of neighborhood adversity in early adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Mrug
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Malcolm Barker-Kamps
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Marlon Goering
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Amit Patki
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Hemant K Tiwari
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
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Stewart J, Bradley J, Smith S, McPeake J, Walsh T, Haines K, Leggett N, Hart N, McAuley D. Do critical illness survivors with multimorbidity need a different model of care? Crit Care 2023; 27:485. [PMID: 38066562 PMCID: PMC10709866 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04770-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
There is currently a lack of evidence on the optimal strategy to support patient recovery after critical illness. Previous research has largely focussed on rehabilitation interventions which aimed to address physical, psychological, and cognitive functional sequelae, the majority of which have failed to demonstrate benefit for the selected outcomes in clinical trials. It is increasingly recognised that a person's existing health status, and in particular multimorbidity (usually defined as two or more medical conditions) and frailty, are strongly associated with their long-term outcomes after critical illness. Recent evidence indicates the existence of a distinct subgroup of critical illness survivors with multimorbidity and high healthcare utilisation, whose prior health trajectory is a better predictor of long-term outcomes than the severity of their acute illness. This review examines the complex relationships between multimorbidity and patient outcomes after critical illness, which are likely mediated by a range of factors including the number, severity, and modifiability of a person's medical conditions, as well as related factors including treatment burden, functional status, healthcare delivery, and social support. We explore potential strategies to optimise patient recovery after critical illness in the presence of multimorbidity. A comprehensive and individualized approach is likely necessary including close coordination among healthcare providers, medication reconciliation and management, and addressing the physical, psychological, and social aspects of recovery. Providing patient-centred care that proactively identifies critical illness survivors with multimorbidity and accounts for their unique challenges and needs is likely crucial to facilitate recovery and improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Stewart
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
| | - Judy Bradley
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Susan Smith
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Joanne McPeake
- The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy Walsh
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Kimberley Haines
- Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nina Leggett
- Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nigel Hart
- Centre for Medical Education, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Danny McAuley
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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21
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Hamlat EJ, Neilands TB, Laraia B, Zhang J, Lu AT, Lin J, Horvath S, Epel ES. Early life adversity predicts an accelerated cellular aging phenotype through early timing of puberty. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7720-7728. [PMID: 37325994 PMCID: PMC11131158 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study examined if early adversity was associated with accelerated biological aging, and if effects were mediated by the timing of puberty. METHODS In early mid-life, 187 Black and 198 White (Mage = 39.4, s.d.age = 1.2) women reported on early abuse and age at first menstruation (menarche). Women provided saliva and blood to assess epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein. Using structural equation modeling, we created a latent variable of biological aging using epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein as indicators, and a latent variable of early abuse using indicators of abuse/threat events before age 13, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. We estimated the indirect effects of early abuse and of race on accelerated aging through age at menarche. Race was used as a proxy for adversity in the form of systemic racism. RESULTS There was an indirect effect of early adversity on accelerated aging through age at menarche (b = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03-0.44), in that women who experienced more adversity were younger at menarche, which was associated with greater accelerated aging. There was also an indirect effect of race on accelerated aging through age at menarche (b = 0.25, 95% CI 0.04-0.52), in that Black women were younger at menarche, which led to greater accelerated aging. CONCLUSIONS Early abuse and being Black in the USA may both induce a phenotype of accelerated aging. Early adversity may begin to accelerate aging during childhood, in the form of early pubertal timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa J. Hamlat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Torsten B. Neilands
- Division of Prevention Science | Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Barbara Laraia
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Zhang
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ake T. Lu
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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22
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Jackson P, Kempf MC, Goodin BR, A. Hidalgo B, Aroke EN. Neighborhood Environment and Epigenetic Age: A Scoping Review. West J Nurs Res 2023; 45:1139-1149. [PMID: 37902222 PMCID: PMC10748459 DOI: 10.1177/01939459231208304] [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: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interest in how the neighborhood environment impacts age-related health conditions has been increasing for decades. Epigenetic changes are environmentally derived modifications to the genome that alter the way genes function-thus altering health status. Epigenetic age, a biomarker for biological age, has been shown to be a useful predictor of several age-related health conditions. Consequently, its relation to the neighborhood environment has been the focus of a growing body of literature. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe the scope of the evidence on the relationship between neighborhood environmental characteristics and epigenetic age. METHODS Using scoping review following methods established by Arksey and O'Malley, we first defined our research questions and searched the literature in PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE. Next, we selected the literature to be included, and finally, we analyzed and summarized the information. RESULTS Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Most studies examined deprivation as the neighborhood characteristic of interest. While all studies were observational in design, the articles included diverse participants, including men and women, adults and children, and multiple ethnicities. Results demonstrated a relationship between the neighborhood environment and epigenetic age, whether the characteristic of interest is socioeconomic or physical. CONCLUSIONS Overall, studies concluded there was a relationship between neighborhood characteristics and epigenetic age, whether the characteristic of interest was socioeconomic or physical. However, findings varied based on how the neighborhood characteristic and/or epigenetic age was measured. Furthermore, a paucity of investigations on physical characteristics was noticeable and warrants increased attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Jackson
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Burel R. Goodin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bertha A. Hidalgo
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Edwin N. Aroke
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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23
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Potente C, Chumbley J, Xu W, Levitt B, Cole SW, Ravi S, Bodelet JS, Gaydosh L, Harris KM, Shanahan MJ. Socioeconomic Inequalities and Molecular Risk for Aging in Young Adulthood. Am J Epidemiol 2023; 192:1981-1990. [PMID: 37431780 PMCID: PMC10691199 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad155] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse manifestations of biological aging often reflect disparities in socioeconomic status (SES). In this paper, we examine associations between indicators of SES and an mRNA-based aging signature during young adulthood, before clinical indications of aging are common. We use data from wave V (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative study of adults aged 33-43 years, with transcriptomic data from a subset of 2,491 participants. Biological aging is measured using 1) a composite transcriptomic aging signature previously identified by Peters et al.'s out-of-sample meta-analysis (Nat Commun. 2015;6:8570) and 2) 9 subsets that represent functional pathways of coexpressed genes. SES refers to income, education, occupation, subjective social status, and a composite measure combining these 4 dimensions. We examine hypothesized mechanisms through which SES could affect aging: body mass index, smoking, health insurance status, difficulty paying bills, and psychosocial stress. We find that SES-especially the composite measure and income-is associated with transcriptomic aging and immune, mitochondrial, ribosomal, lysosomal, and proteomal pathways. Counterfactual mediational models suggest that the mediators partially account for these associations. The results thus reveal that numerous biological pathways associated with aging are already linked to SES in young adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael J Shanahan
- Correspondence to Dr. Michael J. Shanahan, Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (e-mail: )
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24
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Schmitz LL, Duffie E, Zhao W, Ratliff SM, Ding J, Liu Y, Merkin SS, Smith JA, Seeman T. Associations of Early-Life Adversity With Later-Life Epigenetic Aging Profiles in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Epidemiol 2023; 192:1991-2005. [PMID: 37579321 PMCID: PMC10988110 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad172] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic biomarkers of accelerated aging have been widely used to predict disease risk and may enhance our understanding of biological mechanisms between early-life adversity and disparities in aging. With respect to childhood adversity, most studies have used parental education or childhood disadvantage and/or have not examined the role played by socioemotional or physical abuse and trauma in epigenetic profiles at older ages. This study leveraged data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) on experiences of threat and deprivation in participants' early lives (i.e., before the age of 18 years) to examine whether exposure to specific dimensions of early-life adversity is associated with epigenetic profiles at older ages that are indicative of accelerated biological aging. The sample included 842 MESA respondents with DNA methylation data collected between 2010 and 2012 who answered questions on early-life adversities in a 2018-2019 telephone follow-up. We found that experiences of deprivation, but not threat, were associated with later-life GrimAge epigenetic aging signatures that were developed to predict mortality risk. Results indicated that smoking behavior partially mediates this association, which suggests that lifestyle behaviors may act as downstream mechanisms between parental deprivation in early life and accelerated epigenetic aging in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Schmitz
- Correspondence to Dr. Lauren L. Schmitz, Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1225 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706 (e-mail: )
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25
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deSteiguer AJ, Raffington L, Sabhlok A, Tanksley P, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP. Stability of DNA-Methylation Profiles of Biological Aging in Children and Adolescents. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.30.564766. [PMID: 37961459 PMCID: PMC10635005 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.30.564766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives Methylation profile scores (MPSs) index biological aging and aging-related disease in adults and are cross-sectionally associated with social determinants of health in childhood. MPSs thus provide an opportunity to trace how aging-related biology responds to environmental changes in early life. Information regarding the stability of MPSs in early life is currently lacking. Method We use longitudinal data from children and adolescents ages 8-18 (N = 428, M age = 12.15 years) from the Texas Twin Project. Participants contributed two waves of salivary DNA-methylation data (mean lag = 3.94 years), which were used to construct four MPSs reflecting multi-system physiological decline and mortality risk (PhenoAgeAccel and GrimAgeAccel), pace of biological aging (DunedinPACE), and cognitive function (Epigenetic-g). Furthermore, we exploit variation among participants in whether they were exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic during the course of study participation, in order to test how a historical period characterized by environmental disruption might affect children's aging-related MPSs. Results All MPSs showed moderate longitudinal stability (test-retest rs = 0.42, 0.44, 0.46, 0.51 for PhenoAgeAccel, GrimAgeAccel, and Epigenetic-g, and DunedinPACE, respectively). No differences in the stability of MPSs were apparent between those whose second assessment took place after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic vs. those for whom both assessments took place prior to the pandemic. Conclusions Aging-related DNA-methylation patterns are less stable in childhood than has been previously observed in adulthood. Further developmental research on the methylome is necessary to understand which environmental perturbations in childhood impact trajectories of biological aging and when children are most sensitive to those impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby J. deSteiguer
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aditi Sabhlok
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Peter Tanksley
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Elliot M. Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - K. Paige Harden
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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26
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Belsky DW, Baccarelli AA. To promote healthy aging, focus on the environment. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:1334-1344. [PMID: 37946045 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00518-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
To build health equity for an aging world marked by dramatic disparities in healthy lifespan between countries, regions and population groups, research at the intersections of biology, toxicology and the social and behavioral sciences points the way: to promote healthy aging, focus on the environment. In this Perspective, we suggest that ideas and tools from the emerging field of geroscience offer opportunities to advance the environmental science of aging. Specifically, the capacity to measure the pace and progress of biological processes of aging within individuals from relatively young ages makes it possible to study how changing environments can change aging trajectories from early in life, in time to prevent or delay aging-related disease and disability and build aging health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Belsky
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center and Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
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27
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Raffington L, Schneper L, Mallard T, Fisher J, Vinnik L, Hollis-Hansen K, Notterman DA, Tucker-Drob EM, Mitchell C, Harden KP. Salivary Epigenetic Measures of Body Mass Index and Social Determinants of Health Across Childhood and Adolescence. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:1047-1054. [PMID: 37669030 PMCID: PMC10481322 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Importance Children who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are at increased risk for high body mass index (BMI) and multiple diseases in adulthood. The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis proposes that early life conditions affect later-life health in a manner that is only partially modifiable by later-life experiences. Objective To examine whether epigenetic measures of BMI developed in adults are valid biomarkers of childhood BMI and if they are sensitive to early life social determinants of health. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based study of over 3200 children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years included data from 2 demographically diverse US pediatric cohort studies that combine longitudinal and twin study designs. Analyses were conducted from 2021 to 2022. Exposures Socioeconomic status, marginalized groups. Main Outcome and Measure Salivary epigenetic BMI, BMI. Analyses were conducted to validate the use of saliva epigenetic BMI as a potential biomarker of child BMI and to examine associations between epigenetic BMI and social determinants of health. Results Salivary epigenetic BMI was calculated from 2 cohorts: (1) 1183 individuals aged 8 to 18 years (609 female [51%]; mean age, 13.4 years) from the Texas Twin Project and (2) 2020 children (1011 female [50%]) measured at 9 years of age and 15 years of age from the Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study. Salivary epigenetic BMI was associated with children's BMI (r = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.31-0.40 to r = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.42-0.59). Longitudinal analysis found that epigenetic BMI was highly stable across adolescence but remained both a leading and lagging indicator of BMI change. Twin analyses showed that epigenetic BMI captured differences in BMI between monozygotic twins. Moreover, children from more disadvantaged socioeconomic status (b = -0.13 to -0.15 across samples) and marginalized racial and ethnic groups (b = 0.08-0.34 across samples) had higher epigenetic BMI, even when controlling for concurrent BMI, pubertal development, and tobacco exposure. Socioeconomic status at birth relative to concurrent socioeconomic status best predicted epigenetic BMI in childhood and adolescence (b = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.20 to -0.09). Conclusion and Relevance This study demonstrated that epigenetic measures of BMI calculated from pediatric saliva samples were valid biomarkers of childhood BMI and may be associated with early-life social inequalities. The findings are in line with the hypothesis that early-life conditions are especially important factors in epigenetic regulation of later-life health. Research showing that health later in life is linked to early-life conditions has important implications for the development of early-life interventions that could significantly extend healthy life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Travis Mallard
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonah Fisher
- Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Liza Vinnik
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
| | | | - Daniel A. Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - K. Paige Harden
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
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28
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Freilich CD. How does loneliness "get under the skin" to become biologically embedded? BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2023; 68:115-148. [PMID: 37800557 PMCID: PMC10843517 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2023.2260742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is linked to declining physical health across cardiovascular, inflammatory, metabolic, and cognitive domains. As a result, loneliness is increasingly being recognized as a public health threat, though the mechanisms that have been studied do not yet explain all loneliness-related health risk. Potential mechanisms include loneliness having 1.) direct, causal impacts on health, possibly maintained by epigenetic modification, 2.) indirect effects mediated through health-limiting behaviors, and 3.) artifactual associations perhaps related to genetic overlap and reverse causation. In this scoping review, we examine the evidence surrounding each of these pathways, with a particular emphasis on emerging research on epigenetic effects, in order to evaluate how loneliness becomes biologically embedded. We conclude that there are significant gaps in our knowledge of how psychosocial stress may lead to physiological changes, so more work is needed to understand if, how, and when loneliness has a direct influence on health. Hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical axis disruptions that lead to changes in gene expression through methylation and the activity of transcription factor proteins are one promising area of research but are confounded by a number of unmeasured factors. Therefore, wok is needed using causally informative designs, such as twin and family studies and intensively longitudinal diary studies.
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29
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Pająk A, Polak M, Kozela M, Doryńska A, Bobak M. Trajectories in physical functioning at older age in relation to childhood and adulthood SES and social mobility: a population-based cohort study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1228920. [PMID: 37744505 PMCID: PMC10513394 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1228920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Older age is associated with the deterioration of physical functioning (PF), and low PF is strongly related to poor quality of life among older people. We conducted a study to examine the trajectories of PF between middle and old age, considering sex differences as well as the association between socioeconomic status (SES) at different life stages and changes in PF. Methods We analyzed data from the Polish arm of the HAPIEE (Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe) study, including 1,116 men and 1,178 women aged 45-64 years at baseline. Adult and childhood SES and social mobility were assessed using a retrospectively focused questionnaire. PF was assessed using the 10-question SF-36 scale at baseline examination, face-to-face re-examination, and three postal surveys, covering up to 20 years (on average, 18 years). We employed Generalized Estimating Equations models to assess changes in PF scores over time and compare PF trajectories across different SES categories. Results After adjusting for age and other covariates, we found that, in both sexes, participants with always middle or high SES, as well as those who reported upward mobility, had higher PF scores at baseline compared to those with always low SES. A decline in PF between middle and old age was observed in all SES groups; however, the decline was slower in participants with always middle or high SES compared to those with always low SES. Conclusion This cohort study revealed that lower SES and downward social mobility were cross-sectionally associated with poorer PF, while upward social mobility seemed to largely reverse the effect of low childhood SES. In addition to the cross-sectional associations observed at baseline, advantaged SES was also significantly associated with a slower decline in PF over an 18-year follow-up period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Pająk
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Maciej Polak
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kozela
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Doryńska
- Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Martin Bobak
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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30
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Willems YE, deSteiguer A, Tanksley PT, Vinnik L, Främke D, Okbay A, Richter D, Wagner GG, Hertwig R, Koellinger P, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP, Raffington L. Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.30.23294816. [PMID: 37693450 PMCID: PMC10491374 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.23294816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (β =-.34), but not young adults, adolescents or children. This association was not accounted for by statistical correction for socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with worse self-reported health (β =.13 to β = .19). But, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, thus customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y E Willems
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - A deSteiguer
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin
| | - P T Tanksley
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin
| | - L Vinnik
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - D Främke
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - A Okbay
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - D Richter
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin
- SHARE Berlin, Berlin
| | - G G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
- German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin
| | - R Hertwig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - P Koellinger
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | | | - K P Harden
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin
| | - L Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
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31
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Gaylord A, Cohen A, Kupsco A. Biomarkers of aging through the life course: A Recent Literature Update. CURRENT OPINION IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 2:7-17. [PMID: 38130910 PMCID: PMC10732539 DOI: 10.1097/pxh.0000000000000018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of review The development of biomarkers of aging has greatly advanced epidemiological studies of aging processes. However, much debate remains on the timing of aging onset and the causal relevance of these biomarkers. In this review, we discuss the most recent biomarkers of aging that have been applied across the life course. Recent findings The most recently developed aging biomarkers that have been applied across the life course can be designated into three categories: epigenetic clocks, epigenetic markers of chronic inflammation, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. While these have been applied at different life stages, the development, validation, and application of these markers has been largely centered on populations of older adults. Few studies have examined trajectories of aging biomarkers across the life course. As the wealth of molecular and biochemical data increases, emerging biomarkers may be able to capture complex and system-specific aging processes. Recently developed biomarkers include novel epigenetic clocks; clocks based on ribosomal DNA, transcriptomic profiles, proteomics, metabolomics, and inflammatory markers; clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential gene mutations; and multi-omics approaches. Summary Attention should be placed on aging at early and middle life stages to better understand trajectories of aging biomarkers across the life course. Additionally, novel biomarkers will provide greater insight into aging processes. The specific mechanisms of aging reflected by these biomarkers should be considered when interpreting results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Gaylord
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alan Cohen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- PRIMUS Research Group, Department of Family Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Research Center on Aging and Research Center of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Allison Kupsco
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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Raffington L, Schwaba T, Aikins M, Richter D, Wagner GG, Harden KP, Belsky DW, Tucker-Drob EM. Associations of socioeconomic disparities with buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:70. [PMID: 37118759 PMCID: PMC10148429 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01489-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are at increased risk for aging-related diseases and perform less well on tests of cognitive function. The weathering hypothesis proposes that these disparities in physical and cognitive health arise from an acceleration of biological processes of aging. Theories of how life adversity is biologically embedded identify epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation (DNAm), as a mechanistic interface between the environment and health. Consistent with the weathering hypothesis and theories of biological embedding, recently developed DNAm algorithms have revealed profiles reflective of more advanced aging and lower cognitive function among socioeconomically-at-risk groups. These DNAm algorithms were developed using blood-DNA, but social and behavioral science research commonly collect saliva or cheek-swab DNA. This discrepancy is a potential barrier to research to elucidate mechanisms through which socioeconomic disadvantage affects aging and cognition. We therefore tested if social gradients observed in blood DNAm measures could be reproduced using buccal-cell DNA obtained from cheek swabs. RESULTS We analyzed three DNAm measures of biological aging and one DNAm measure of cognitive performance, all of which showed socioeconomic gradients in previous studies: the PhenoAge and GrimAge DNAm clocks, DunedinPACE, and Epigenetic-g. We first computed blood-buccal cross-tissue correlations in n = 21 adults (GEO111165). Cross-tissue correlations were low-to-moderate (r = .25 to r = .48). We next conducted analyses of socioeconomic gradients using buccal DNAm data from SOEP-G (n = 1128, 57% female; age mean = 42 yrs, SD = 21.56, range 0-72). Associations of socioeconomic status with DNAm measures of aging were in the expected direction, but were smaller as compared to reports from blood DNAm datasets (r = - .08 to r = - .13). CONCLUSIONS Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with DNAm indicators of worse physical health. However, relatively low cross-tissue correlations and attenuated effect sizes for socioeconomic gradients in buccal DNAm compared with reports from analysis of blood DNAm suggest that in order to take full advantage of buccal DNA samples, DNAm algorithms customized to buccal DNAm are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - T Schwaba
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - M Aikins
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - D Richter
- SHARE Berlin Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Educational Science and Psychology, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - G G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Federal Institute for Population Research, Wiesbaden, Berlin, Germany
- German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin, Germany
| | - K P Harden
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - D W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - E M Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Raffington L, Tanksley PT, Sabhlok A, Vinnik L, Mallard T, King LS, Goosby B, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM. Socially Stratified Epigenetic Profiles Are Associated With Cognitive Functioning in Children and Adolescents. Psychol Sci 2023; 34:170-185. [PMID: 36459657 PMCID: PMC10068508 DOI: 10.1177/09567976221122760] [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: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Children's cognitive functioning and educational performance are socially stratified. Social inequality, including classism and racism, may operate partly via epigenetic mechanisms that modulate neurocognitive development. Following preregistered analyses of data from 1,183 participants, ages 8 to 19 years, from the Texas Twin Project, we found that children growing up in more socioeconomically disadvantaged families and neighborhoods and children from marginalized racial/ethnic groups exhibit DNA methylation profiles that, in previous studies of adults, were indicative of higher chronic inflammation, lower cognitive functioning, and a faster pace of biological aging. Furthermore, children's salivary DNA methylation profiles were associated with their performance on in-laboratory tests of cognitive and academic skills, including processing speed, general executive function, perceptual reasoning, verbal comprehension, reading, and math. Given that the DNA methylation measures that we examined were originally developed in adults, our results suggest that children show molecular signatures that reflect the early life social determinants of lifelong disparities in health and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Raffington
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Population Research Center, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial –
Biology, Social Disparities, and Development; Max Planck Institute for Human
Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter T. Tanksley
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Population Research Center, The
University of Texas at Austin
| | - Aditi Sabhlok
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
| | - Liza Vinnik
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
| | - Travis Mallard
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
| | - Lucy S. King
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Bridget Goosby
- Population Research Center, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Sociology, The University
of Texas at Austin
| | - K. Paige Harden
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Population Research Center, The
University of Texas at Austin
| | - Elliot M. Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology, The
University of Texas at Austin
- Population Research Center, The
University of Texas at Austin
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Perret LC, Geoffroy MC, Barr E, Parnet F, Provencal N, Boivin M, O’Donnell KJ, Suderman M, Power C, Turecki G, Ouellet-Morin I. Associations between epigenetic aging and childhood peer victimization, depression, and suicidal ideation in adolescence and adulthood: A study of two population-based samples. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1051556. [PMID: 36712964 PMCID: PMC9879289 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1051556] [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: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Prior studies indicate that peer victimization (including bullying) is associated with higher risk for depression and suicidal ideation across the life course. However, molecular mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. This two-cohort study proposes to test whether epigenetic aging and pace of aging, as well as a DNA methylation marker of responsive to glucocorticoids, are associated to childhood peer victimization and later depressive symptoms, or suicidal ideation. Methods: Cohort 1: Epigenome-wide DNA methylation (EPIC array) was measured in saliva collected when participants were 10.47 years (standard deviation = 0.35) in a subsample of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD, n = 149 participants), with self-reported peer victimization at 6-8 years, depressive symptoms (mean symptoms, and dichotomized top 30% symptoms) and suicidal ideation at 15-17 years. Cohort 2: Epigenome-wide DNA methylation (EPIC array) was measured in blood collected from participants aged 45.13 years (standard deviation = 0.37) in a subsample of the 1958 British Birth cohort (1958BBC, n = 238 participants) with information on mother-reported peer victimization at 7-11 years, self-reported depressive symptoms at 50 years, and suicidal ideation at 45 years. Five epigenetic indices were derived: three indicators of epigenetic aging [Horvath's pan-tissue (Horvath1), Horvath's Skin-and-Blood (Horvath2), Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic age (PedBE)], pace of aging (DunedinPACE), and stress response reactivity (Epistress). Results: Peer victimization was not associated with the epigenetic indices in either cohort. In the QLSCD, higher PedBE epigenetic aging and a slower pace of aging as measured by DunedinPACE predicted higher depressive symptoms scores. In contrast, neither the Horvath1, or Horvath2 epigenetic age estimates, nor the Epistress score were associated with depressive symptoms in either cohort, and none of the epigenetic indices predicted suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with epigenome-wide and candidate gene studies suggesting that these epigenetic indices did not relate to peer victimization, challenging the hypothesis that cumulative epigenetic aging indices could translate vulnerability to depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation following peer victimization. Since some indices of epigenetic aging and pace of aging signaled higher risk for depressive symptoms, future studies should pursue this investigation to further evaluate the robustness and generalization of these preliminary findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. C. Perret
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - M-C. Geoffroy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - E. Barr
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - F. Parnet
- School of Criminology, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - N. Provencal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - M. Boivin
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - K. J. O’Donnell
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States,Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M. Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, Bristol Population Health Science Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - C. Power
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - G. Turecki
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - I. Ouellet-Morin
- School of Criminology, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: I. Ouellet-Morin,
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Dobewall H, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, Marttila S, Mishra PP, Saarinen A, Cloninger CR, Zwir I, Kähönen M, Hurme M, Raitakari O, Lehtimäki T, Hintsanen M. The relationship of trait-like compassion with epigenetic aging: The population-based prospective Young Finns Study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1018797. [PMID: 37143783 PMCID: PMC10151573 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1018797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Helping others within and beyond the family has been related to living a healthy and long life. Compassion is a prosocial personality trait characterized by concern for another person who is suffering and the motivation to help. The current study examines whether epigenetic aging is a potential biological mechanism that explains the link between prosociality and longevity. Methods We used data from the Young Finns Study that follows six birth-cohorts from age 3-18 to 19-49. Trait-like compassion for others was measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory in the years 1997 and 2001. Epigenetic age acceleration and telomere length were measured with five DNA methylation (DNAm) indicators (DNAmAgeHorvath, IEAA_Hannum, EEAA_Hannum, DNAmPhenoAge, and DNAmTL) based on blood drawn in 2011. We controlled for sex, socioeconomic status in childhood and adulthood, and body-mass index. Results and discussion An association between higher compassion in 1997 and a less accelerated DNAmPhenoAge, which builds on previous work on phenotypic aging, approached statistical significance in a sex-adjusted model (n = 1,030; b = -0.34; p = 0.050). Compassion in 1997 predicted less accelerated epigenetic aging over and above the control variables (n = 843; b = -0.47; p = 0.016). There was no relationship between compassion in 2001 (n = 1108/910) and any of the other four studied epigenetic aging indicators. High compassion for others might indeed influence whether an individual's biological age is lower than their chronological age. The conducted robustness checks partially support this conclusion, yet cannot rule out that there might be a broader prosocial trait behind the findings. The observed associations are interesting but should be interpreted as weak requiring replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Dobewall
- Faculty of Education, VISE Research Unit, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Henrik Dobewall,
| | | | - Saara Marttila
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pashupati P. Mishra
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center - Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Aino Saarinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - C. Robert Cloninger
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Igor Zwir
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Computer Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Mika Kähönen
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mikko Hurme
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Olli Raitakari
- 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
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Molecular Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center - Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mirka Hintsanen
- Faculty of Education, VISE Research Unit, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Caro JC, Holuka C, Menta G, Turner JD, Vögele C, D'Ambrosio C. Children's internalizing behavior development is heterogeneously associated with the pace of epigenetic aging. Biol Psychol 2023; 176:108463. [PMID: 36436681 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internalizing behaviors are an indicator of children's psychological and emotional development, predicting future mental disorders. Recent studies have identified associations between DNA methylation (DNAm) and internalizing behaviors. This prospective study aimed at exploring the associations between pace of biological aging and the developmental trajectories of internalizing behaviors. METHODS Participants were children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (N = 974). Measures of DNA methylation were collected at birth, age 7 and ages 15-17. The pace of aging was estimated using the DunedinPoAm algorithm (PoAm). Internalizing behaviors reported by caregivers between ages 4 and 16 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. To explore heterogeneity in the association between PoAm and internalizing behaviors we use Poisson quantile regression in cross-section heterogeneity and longitudinal latent class analysis over the childhood and adolescence. RESULTS Internalizing behavior trajectories were identified: low-risk, childhood limited, late onset and early onset (persistent). Accelerated aging at birth was negatively associated with internalizing behaviors in early childhood but positively correlated during adolescence. Higher PoAm at birth increased chance of low-risk profile, while decreasing likelihood of childhood limited trajectory. PoAm at age 15 was negatively associated with childhood limited profile and positively linked to late onset trajectories. Associations were larger at higher values of internalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The heterogeneity in the association between biological age acceleration and internalizing behaviors suggests a complex dynamic relationship, particularly in children with high or increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Caro
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
| | - Cyrielle Holuka
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; Faculty of Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Giorgia Menta
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Luxembourg
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg
| | - Claus Vögele
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Conchita D'Ambrosio
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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Fine M. Prec(ar)ious knowledge and the neoliberal academy: Towards re-imagining epistemic justice and critical psychology. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62 Suppl 1:180-193. [PMID: 36576304 PMCID: PMC10108082 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
This epilogue is written in the ink of gratitude and provocation, reflecting on the essays that constitute the special issue on precarity. I briefly review the key gifts of the essays and then try to imagine how a social psychology of precarity could be theorized and engaged otherwise, with commitments to epistemic justice, designed with decolonizing methodologies and organized in solidarity with movements for social justice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Fine
- The CUNY Graduate Center, Critical Psychology, The Public Science Project, CUNY, New York, New York, USA.,Visiting Scholar at University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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Wang S, Zhao X, Yu Y, Tao F, Liu D, Sun Y. Prolonged Rather Than Early Childhood Parent-Child Separation Predicts Change in Molecular Markers of Cellular Aging: A Consideration of the Role of Adolescence. J Youth Adolesc 2023; 52:165-176. [PMID: 36149547 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-022-01681-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Early life adversity is a major risk factor for the onset of psychopathology, and cellular aging may be a mechanism underlying these associations. It is unknown whether and how the pattern (timing and duration) of parent-child separation is associated with accelerated cellular aging, particularly with respect to functional aging and replicative senescence, indexed by mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) elevation and telomere length (TL) attrition. This cohort study included 252 rural adolescents (mean age 11.62 years, SD: 1.56). Nearly one in five participants were persistently separated from both parents since birth. Compared with participants who never separated from their parents, adolescents with prolonged parent-child separation had higher acceleration both in functional aging and replicative senescence of cells. However, that was not the case in adolescents who experienced parent-child separation in early childhood but regained stable parental care during adolescence. These findings indicate that pubertal development reopens a window of opportunity for buffering the adverse biological effect based on significant improvements in the supportiveness of the caregiving environment relative to that in childhood. Translating such knowledge to inform intervention and prevention strategies for youths exposed to adversity is a critical goal for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihong Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Deyun Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
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Soulsby WD, Lawson E, Pantell MS. Cumulative Social Disadvantage Associated with Childhood Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Survey of Children's Health. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023; 75:3-8. [PMID: 35904964 PMCID: PMC10013419 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Health disparities in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) remain poorly understood. Social disadvantage may have a cumulative impact on health, with recent analyses using combined scoring systems to measure their impact on outcomes. Our aim was to investigate cumulative social disadvantage on childhood arthritis by using a cumulative score to analyze its association with arthritis among a nationally representative sample of children. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of the National Survey of Children's Health (2016-2019) was performed. A cumulative social disadvantage score was generated (1 point each, with a maximum score of 4): low guardian education (high school or less), low household income level (0-199% of federal poverty level), underinsured status (public or uninsured), and high adverse childhood experience (ACE) score (≥4). Univariate and multivariable (adjusting for age, sex, and race and ethnicity) logistic regression models were used to measure the association between cumulative social risk and the odds of an arthritis diagnosis and moderate-to-severe parent-reported arthritis severity. RESULTS Of 131,774 surveys completed, a total of 365 children reported current arthritis. Cumulative social disadvantage was associated with an arthritis diagnosis, with the highest odds among those with a score of 4 (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj ] 12.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.9-53.3]). Cumulative social disadvantage also was associated with increased odds of moderate-to-severe arthritis severity (ORadj 12.4 [95% CI 1.8-82.6]). CONCLUSION In this nationally representative sample, accumulated social disadvantage, measured via a cumulative social disadvantage score based on income level, guardian education, insurance status, and ACE exposure, was associated with an arthritis diagnosis and moderate-to-severe arthritis severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Daniel Soulsby
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, San Francisco, CA
| | - Erica Lawson
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, San Francisco, CA
| | - Matthew S. Pantell
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, San Francisco, CA
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Kankaanpää A, Tolvanen A, Heikkinen A, Kaprio J, Ollikainen M, Sillanpää E. The role of adolescent lifestyle habits in biological aging: A prospective twin study. eLife 2022; 11:80729. [PMID: 36345722 PMCID: PMC9642990 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80729] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Adolescence is a stage of fast growth and development. Exposures during puberty can have long-term effects on health in later life. This study aims to investigate the role of adolescent lifestyle in biological aging. Methods: The study participants originated from the longitudinal FinnTwin12 study (n = 5114). Adolescent lifestyle-related factors, including body mass index (BMI), leisure-time physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use, were based on self-reports and measured at ages 12, 14, and 17 years. For a subsample, blood-based DNA methylation (DNAm) was used to assess biological aging with six epigenetic aging measures in young adulthood (21–25 years, n = 824). A latent class analysis was conducted to identify patterns of lifestyle behaviors in adolescence, and differences between the subgroups in later biological aging were studied. Genetic and environmental influences on biological aging shared with lifestyle behavior patterns were estimated using quantitative genetic modeling. Results: We identified five subgroups of participants with different adolescent lifestyle behavior patterns. When DNAm GrimAge, DunedinPoAm, and DunedinPACE estimators were used, the class with the unhealthiest lifestyle and the class of participants with high BMI were biologically older than the classes with healthier lifestyle habits. The differences in lifestyle-related factors were maintained into young adulthood. Most of the variation in biological aging shared with adolescent lifestyle was explained by common genetic factors. Conclusions: These findings suggest that an unhealthy lifestyle during pubertal years is associated with accelerated biological aging in young adulthood. Genetic pleiotropy may largely explain the observed associations. Funding: This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (213506, 265240, 263278, 312073 to J.K., 297908 to M.O. and 341750, 346509 to E.S.), EC FP5 GenomEUtwin (J.K.), National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (grant HL104125), EC MC ITN Project EPITRAIN (J.K. and M.O.), the University of Helsinki Research Funds (M.O.), Sigrid Juselius Foundation (J.K. and M.O.), Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation (6868), Juho Vainio Foundation (E.S.) and Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg foundation (E.S.). For most animals, events that occur early in life can have a lasting impact on individuals’ health. In humans, adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time when rapid growth and development collide with growing independence and experimentation. An unhealthy lifestyle during this period of rapid cell growth can contribute to later health problems like heart disease, lung disease, and premature death. This is due partly to accelerated biological aging, where the body deteriorates faster than what would be expected for an individual’s chronological age. One way to track the effects of lifestyle on biological aging is by measuring epigenetic changes. Epigenetic changes consist on adding or removing chemical ‘tags’ on genes. These tags can switch the genes on or off without changing their sequences. Scientists can measure certain epigenetic changes by measuring the levels of methylated DNA – DNA with a chemical ‘tag’ known as a methyl group – in blood samples. Several algorithms – known as ‘epigenetic clocks’ – are available that estimate how fast an individual is aging biologically based on DNA methylation. Kankaanpää et al. show that unhealthy lifestyles during adolescence may lead to accelerated aging in early adulthood. For their analysis, Kankaanpää et al. used data on the levels of DNA methylation in blood samples from 824 twins between 21 and 25 years old. The twins were participants in the FinnTwin12 study and had completed a survey about their lifestyles at ages 12, 14, and 17. Kankaanpää et al. classified individuals into five groups depending on their lifestyles. The first three groups, which included most of the twins, contained individuals that led relatively healthy lives. The fourth group contained individuals with a higher body mass index based on their height and weight. Finally, the last group included individuals with unhealthy lifestyles who binge drank, smoked and did not exercise. After estimating the biological ages for all of the participants, Kankaanpää et al. found that both the individuals with higher body mass indices and those in the group with unhealthy lifestyles aged faster than those who reported healthier lifestyles. However, the results varied depending on which epigenetic clock Kankaanpää et al. used to measure biological aging: clocks that had been developed earlier showed fewer differences in aging between groups; while newer clocks consistently found that individuals in the higher body mass index and unhealthy groups were older. Kankaanpää et al. also showed that shared genetic factors explained both unhealthy lifestyles and accelerated biological aging. The experiments performed by Kankaanpää et al. provide new insights into the vital role of an individual’s genetics in unhealthy lifestyles and cellular aging. These insights might help scientists identify at risk individuals early in life and try to prevent accelerated aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kankaanpää
- Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
| | - Asko Tolvanen
- Methodology Center for Human Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
| | - Aino Heikkinen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLife, University of Helsinki
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLife, University of Helsinki
| | - Miina Ollikainen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLife, University of Helsinki
| | - Elina Sillanpää
- Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLife, University of Helsinki
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Langevin S, Caspi A, Barnes JC, Brennan G, Poulton R, Purdy SC, Ramrakha S, Tanksley PT, Thorne PR, Wilson G, Moffitt TE. Life-Course Persistent Antisocial Behavior and Accelerated Biological Aging in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14402. [PMID: 36361282 PMCID: PMC9657643 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Prior research shows that individuals who have exhibited antisocial behavior are in poorer health than their same-aged peers. A major driver of poor health is aging itself, yet research has not investigated relationships between offending trajectories and biological aging. We tested the hypothesis that individuals following a life-course persistent (LCP) antisocial trajectory show accelerated aging in midlife. Trajectories of antisocial behavior from age 7 to 26 years were studied in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a population-representative birth cohort (N = 1037). Signs of aging were assessed at age 45 years using previously validated measures including biomarkers, clinical tests, and self-reports. First, we tested whether the association between antisocial behavior trajectories and midlife signs of faster aging represented a decline from initial childhood health. We then tested whether decline was attributable to tobacco smoking, antipsychotic medication use, debilitating illnesses in adulthood, adverse exposures in childhood (maltreatment, socioeconomic disadvantage) and adulthood (incarceration), and to childhood self-control difficulties. Study members with a history of antisocial behavior had a significantly faster pace of biological aging by midlife, and this was most evident among individuals following the LCP trajectory (β, 0.22, 95%CI, 0.14, 0.28, p ≤ 0.001). This amounted to 4.3 extra years of biological aging between ages 25-45 years for Study members following the LCP trajectory compared to low-antisocial trajectory individuals. LCP offenders also experienced more midlife difficulties with hearing (β, -0.14, 95%CI, -0.21, -0.08, p ≤ 0.001), balance (β, -0.13, 95%CI, -0.18, -0.06, p ≤ 0.001), gait speed (β, -0.18, 95%CI, -0.24, -0.10, p ≤ 0.001), and cognitive functioning (β, -0.25, 95%CI, -0.31, -0.18, p ≤ 0.001). Associations represented a decline from childhood health. Associations persisted after controlling individually for tobacco smoking, antipsychotic medication use, midlife illnesses, maltreatment, socioeconomic status, incarceration, and childhood self-control difficulties. However, the cumulative effect of these lifestyle characteristics together explained why LCP offenders have a faster Pace of Aging than their peers. While older adults typically age-out of crime, LCP offenders will likely age-into the healthcare system earlier than their chronologically same-aged peers. Preventing young people from offending is likely to have substantial benefits for health, and people engaging in a LCP trajectory of antisocial behaviors might be the most in need of health promotion programs. We offer prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the financial burden of offenders on healthcare systems and improve their wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Langevin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ashalom Caspi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Healthcare System, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - J. C. Barnes
- School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Grace Brennan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Richie Poulton
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne C. Purdy
- Discipline of Speech Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Sandhya Ramrakha
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Peter T. Tanksley
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78705, USA
| | - Peter R. Thorne
- Discipline of Audiology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Graham Wilson
- Matai Medical Research Institute, Gisborne 4010, New Zealand
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42
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Niccodemi G, Menta G, Turner J, D'Ambrosio C. Pace of aging, family environment and cognitive skills in children and adolescents. SSM Popul Health 2022; 20:101280. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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43
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Berg MT, Rogers EM, Riley K, Lei MK, Simons RL. Incarceration exposure and epigenetic aging in neighborhood context. Soc Sci Med 2022; 310:115273. [PMID: 35994877 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115273] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research has implicated incarceration exposure as a social determinant of health, with recent work suggesting incarceration may trigger a stress response that accelerates physiological deterioration. The objective of the current study is to assess whether neighborhood stressors intensify the health consequences of incarceration exposure. METHODS We test whether two neighborhood context measures - socioeconomic disadvantage and perceived crime - moderate the association between incarceration exposure and a measure of accelerated epigenetic aging based on the GrimAge index. Our sample included 408 African American young adults from the Family and Community Health study. RESULTS Results from regression analyses with inverse probability of treatment weights suggest that incarceration exposure and neighborhood disadvantage are independently associated with accelerated biological aging. The results also show that the impact of incarceration exposure on accelerated aging is amplified for individuals in neighborhoods with higher levels of perceived crime. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the neighborhood contexts where formerly incarcerated individuals return have a substantial impact on their pace of biological aging. Policies aimed at reducing ambient stressors after release may promote healthy aging among formerly incarcerated African American adults.
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44
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Franzago M, Pilenzi L, Di Rado S, Vitacolonna E, Stuppia L. The epigenetic aging, obesity, and lifestyle. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:985274. [PMID: 36176280 PMCID: PMC9514048 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.985274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased worldwide over the past decades. Aging-related chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are more prevalent in individuals with obesity, thus reducing their lifespan. Epigenetic clocks, the new metrics of biological age based on DNA methylation patterns, could be considered a reflection of the state of one’s health. Several environmental exposures and lifestyle factors can induce epigenetic aging accelerations, including obesity, thus leading to an increased risk of age-related diseases. The insight into the complex link between obesity and aging might have significant implications for the promotion of health and the mitigation of future disease risk. The present narrative review takes into account the interaction between epigenetic aging and obesity, suggesting that epigenome may be an intriguing target for age-related physiological changes and that its modification could influence aging and prolong a healthy lifespan. Therefore, we have focused on DNA methylation age as a clinical biomarker, as well as on the potential reversal of epigenetic age using a personalized diet- and lifestyle-based intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marica Franzago
- Department of Medicine and Aging, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Pilenzi
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Psychological Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sara Di Rado
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Ester Vitacolonna
- Department of Medicine and Aging, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Liborio Stuppia
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Psychological Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- *Correspondence: Liborio Stuppia,
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45
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Graf GH, Li X, Kwon D, Belsky DW, Widom CS. Biological aging in maltreated children followed up into middle adulthood. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 143:105848. [PMID: 35779342 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood adversity has been linked to many indicators of shorter healthy lifespan, including earlier onset of disease and disability as well as early mortality. These observations suggest the hypothesis that childhood maltreatment may accelerate aging. OBJECTIVE To characterize the relationship between childhood maltreatment and accelerated biological aging in a prospective cohort of 357 individuals with documented cases of childhood maltreatment and 250 controls matched on demographic and socioeconomic factors. METHODS Cases were drawn from juvenile and adult court records from the years 1967 through 1971 in a large Midwest metropolitan geographic area. Cases were defined as having court-substantiated cases of childhood physical or sexual abuse, or neglect occurring at age 11 or younger. Controls were selected from the same schools and hospitals of birth and matched on age, sex, race, and approximate socioeconomic status. We compared biological aging in these two groups using two blood-chemistry algorithms, the Klemera-Doubal method Biological Age (KDM BA) and the PhenoAge. Algorithms were developed and validated in data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) using published methods and publicly available software. RESULTS Participants (55% women, 49% non-White) had mean age of 41 years (SD=4). Those with court substantiated childhood maltreatment history exhibited more advanced biological aging as compared with matched controls, although this difference was statistically different for only the KDM BA measure (KDM BA Cohen's D=0.20, 95% CI=[0.03,0.36], p = 0.02; PhenoAge Cohen's D=0.09 95% CI=[-0.08,0.25], p = 0.296). In subgroup analyses, maltreatment effect sizes were larger for women as compared to men and for White participants as compared to non-White participants, although these differences were not statistically significant at the α= 0.05 level. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE As of midlife, effects of childhood maltreatment on biological aging are small in magnitude but discernible. Interventions to treat psychological and behavioral sequelae of exposure to childhood maltreatment, including in midlife adults, have potential to protect survivors from excess burden of disease, disability, and mortality in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Graf
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA; Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - X Li
- Psychology Department, John Jay College, City University of New York, New York, USA; Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - D Kwon
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA; Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - D W Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA; Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - C S Widom
- Psychology Department, John Jay College, City University of New York, New York, USA; Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, USA.
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46
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Lei MK, Beach SRH. Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with biological aging: Intervention-induced enhancement of couple functioning confers resilience. FAMILY PROCESS 2022:e12808. [PMID: 36008918 PMCID: PMC10155753 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The accelerated pace of biological aging predicts mortality and morbidity later in life. The current study examines whether a change in supportive couple functioning buffers accelerated aging associated with stressful community environments among Black Americans who live in rural, Southern, disadvantaged neighborhoods. We examined 348 Black American middle-aged adults assigned randomly to receive the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) intervention or a control condition. The program was designed to enhance supportive couple functioning among Black Americans. We used DunedinPoAm to quantify the methylation pace of aging and employed the Area Deprivation Index at the census block group level to measure neighborhood disadvantage. Neighborhood disadvantage was associated with the accelerated pace of aging. Further, participation in ProSAAF enhanced supportive couple functioning, and improvement in couple functioning protected participants from the harmful effects of neighborhood disadvantage on the accelerated pace of aging. These findings supported mediated moderation and suggested that family-based prevention programs that enhance couple support may decrease the erosive effects of neighborhood disadvantage and improve prospects for healthy aging among rural, Southern, Black Americans living in difficult circumstances. This may provide a supplemental strategy for decreasing health disparities due to neighborhood disadvantage by enhancing family systems.
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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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47
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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: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [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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48
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Etzel L, Hastings WJ, Hall MA, Heim CM, Meaney MJ, Noll JG, O'Donnell KJ, Pokhvisneva I, Rose EJ, Schreier HMC, Shenk CE, Shalev I. Obesity and accelerated epigenetic aging in a high-risk cohort of children. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8328. [PMID: 35585103 PMCID: PMC9117197 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11562-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
New insights into mechanisms linking obesity to poor health outcomes suggest a role for cellular aging pathways, casting obesity as a disease of accelerated biological aging. Although obesity has been linked to accelerated epigenetic aging in middle-aged adults, the impact during childhood remains unclear. We tested the association between body mass index (BMI) and accelerated epigenetic aging in a cohort of high-risk children. Participants were children (N = 273, aged 8 to 14 years, 82% investigated for maltreatment) recruited to the Child Health Study, an ongoing prospective study of youth investigated for maltreatment and a comparison youth. BMI was measured as a continuous variable. Accelerated epigenetic aging of blood leukocytes was defined as the age-adjusted residuals of several established epigenetic aging clocks (Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge) along with a newer algorithm, the DunedinPoAm, developed to quantify the pace-of-aging. Hypotheses were tested with generalized linear models. Higher age-and sex- adjusted z-scored BMI was significantly correlated with household income, blood cell counts, and three of the accelerated epigenetic aging measures: GrimAge (r = 0.31, P < .0001), PhenoAge (r = 0.24, P < .0001), and DunedinPoAm (r = 0.38, P < .0001). In fully adjusted models, GrimAge (β = 0.07; P = .0009) and DunedinPoAm (β = 0.0017; P < .0001) remained significantly associated with higher age- and sex-adjusted z-scored BMI. Maltreatment-status was not associated with accelerated epigenetic aging. In a high-risk cohort of children, higher BMI predicted epigenetic aging as assessed by two epigenetic aging clocks. These results suggest the association between obesity and accelerated epigenetic aging begins in early life, with implications for future morbidity and mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Etzel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Molly A Hall
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Christine M Heim
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jennie G Noll
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Emma J Rose
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Hannah M C Schreier
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Chad E Shenk
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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49
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Bourassa KJ, Moffitt TE, Ambler A, Hariri AR, Harrington H, Houts RM, Ireland D, Knodt A, Poulton R, Ramrakha S, Caspi A. Association of Treatable Health Conditions During Adolescence With Accelerated Aging at Midlife. JAMA Pediatr 2022; 176:392-399. [PMID: 35188538 PMCID: PMC8861897 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.6417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Biological aging is a distinct construct from health; however, people who age quickly are more likely to experience poor health. Identifying pediatric health conditions associated with accelerated aging could help develop treatment approaches to slow midlife aging and prevent poor health in later life. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between 4 treatable health conditions in adolescence and accelerated aging at midlife. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study analyzed data from participants in the Dunedin Study, a longitudinal investigation of health and behavior among a birth cohort born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973, in Dunedin, New Zealand, and followed up until age 45 years. Participants underwent an assessment at age 45 years and had data for at least 1 adolescent health condition (asthma, smoking, obesity, and psychological disorders) and outcome measure (pace of aging, gait speed, brain age, and facial age). Data analysis was performed from February 11 to September 27, 2021. EXPOSURES Asthma, cigarette smoking, obesity, and psychological disorders were assessed at age 11, 13, and 15 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The outcome was a midlife aging factor composite score comprising 4 measures of biological aging: pace of aging, gait speed, brain age (specifically, BrainAGE score), and facial age. RESULTS A total of 910 participants (459 men [50.4%]) met the inclusion criteria, including an assessment at age 45 years. Participants who had smoked daily (0.61 [95% CI, 0.43-0.79] SD units), had obesity (0.82 [95% CI, 0.59-1.06] SD units), or had a psychological disorder diagnosis (0.43 [95% CI, 0.29-0.56] SD units) during adolescence were biologically older at midlife compared with participants without these conditions. Participants with asthma were not biologically older at midlife (0.02 [95% CI, -0.14 to 0.19] SD units) compared with those without asthma. These results remained unchanged after adjusting for childhood risk factors such as poor health, socioeconomic disadvantage, and adverse experiences. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study found that adolescent smoking, obesity, and psychological disorder diagnoses were associated with older biological age at midlife. These health conditions could be treated during adolescence to reduce the risk of accelerated biological aging later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J. Bourassa
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina,Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Durham Healthcare System, Durham, North Carolina,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Terrie E. Moffitt
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina,Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Antony Ambler
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmad R. Hariri
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - HonaLee Harrington
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Renate M. Houts
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - David Ireland
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Annchen Knodt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Richie Poulton
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Sandhya Ramrakha
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina,Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Graf GHJ, Zhang Y, Domingue BW, Harris KM, Kothari M, Kwon D, Muennig P, Belsky DW. Social mobility and biological aging among older adults in the United States. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac029. [PMID: 35615471 PMCID: PMC9123172 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Lower socioeconomic status is associated with faster biological aging, the gradual and progressive decline in system integrity that accumulates with advancing age. Efforts to promote upward social mobility may, therefore, extend healthy lifespan. However, recent studies suggest that upward mobility may also have biological costs related to the stresses of crossing social boundaries. We tested associations of life-course social mobility with biological aging using data from participants in the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Venous Blood Study who provided blood-chemistry (n = 9,255) and/or DNA methylation (DNAm) data (n = 3,976). We quantified social mobility from childhood to later-life using data on childhood family characteristics, educational attainment, and wealth accumulation. We quantified biological aging using 3 DNAm "clocks" and 3 blood-chemistry algorithms. We observed substantial social mobility among study participants. Those who achieved upward mobility exhibited less-advanced and slower biological aging. Associations of upward mobility with less-advanced and slower aging were consistent for blood-chemistry and DNAm measures of biological aging, and were similar for men and women and for Black and White Americans (Pearson-r effect-sizes ∼0.2 for blood-chemistry measures and the DNAm GrimAge clock and DunedinPoAm pace-of-aging measures; effect-sizes were smaller for the DNAm PhenoAge clock). Analysis restricted to educational mobility suggested differential effects by racial identity; mediating links between educational mobility and healthy aging may be disrupted by structural racism. In contrast, mobility producing accumulation of wealth appeared to benefit White and Black Americans equally, suggesting economic intervention to reduce wealth inequality may have potential to heal disparities in healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kathleen Mullan Harris
- Department of Sociology, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Meeraj Kothari
- Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dayoon Kwon
- Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA,UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Peter Muennig
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
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