Life course socioeconomic position and DNA methylation age acceleration in mid-life

BackgroundAgeing biomarkers can help us better understand how well-established socioeconomic position (SEP) disparities in ageing occur. A promising new set of DNAm methylation (DNAm)-based ageing biomarkers indicate through their age acceleration (AA) measures if biological ageing is slower or fast...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2021-11, Vol.75 (11), p.1084-1090
Main Authors: George, Anitha, Hardy, Rebecca, Castillo Fernandez, Juan, Kelly, Yvonne, Maddock, Jane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Aging
Biomarkers
Blood
Children
DNA methylation
Education
Educational attainment
Family income
Households
Original Research
Social classes
Social interactions
Social mobility
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomics
Upward mobility
Variables
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:BackgroundAgeing biomarkers can help us better understand how well-established socioeconomic position (SEP) disparities in ageing occur. A promising new set of DNAm methylation (DNAm)-based ageing biomarkers indicate through their age acceleration (AA) measures if biological ageing is slower or faster than chronological ageing. Few studies have investigated the association between SEP and DNAm AA.MethodsWe used linear regression to examine the sex-adjusted relationships between childhood social class, adult social class, intergenerational social class change, education and adult household earnings with first (Horvath AA and Hannum AA) and second generation (PhenoAge AA and GrimAge AA) DNAm AA markers using data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.ResultsIn the first-generation biomarkers, there was little evidence of any associations with Horvath AA but associations of childhood social class and income with Hannum AA were observed. Strong associations were seen between greater disadvantage in childhood and adult SEP and greater AA in the second generation biomarkers. For example, those with fathers in an unskilled occupational social class in childhood had 3.6 years greater PhenoAge AA (95% CI 1.8 to 5.4) than those with fathers from a professional social class. Individuals without qualifications had higher AA compared with those with higher education (4.1 years greater GrimAge AA (95% CI 3.1 to 5.0)).ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of exposure to social disadvantage in childhood to the biological ageing process. The second generation clocks appear to be more sensitive to the accumulation of social disadvantage across the life course.
ISSN:0143-005X
1470-2738
DOI:10.1136/jech-2020-215608