Aging

Article information
Title: Neighborhood disadvantage and accelerated epigenetic aging in the early aftermath of trauma: The moderating role of individual psychological resources
PubMed ID: 42033878
Author Last Name: Webb

Abstract:
Socioenvironmental factors may be associated with patterns of biological age and modify individual vulnerability to trauma- and stress-related psychiatric conditions. We examined whether neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in the early aftermath of trauma. Next, we tested whether individual psychological resources, previously shown to attenuate stress-related accelerated aging, moderated the association between neighborhood disadvantage and epigenetic aging. Participants provided blood samples approximately 2 weeks post-trauma (N = 203; 64% female) and completed sociodemographic and psychometric assessments, including a measure of individual psychological resources (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale [CD-RISC]). Epigenetic aging was assessed using the Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE clocks. Neighborhood disadvantage (national area deprivation index [ADI]) was derived from participants' home addresses. Linear models evaluated the relationship between ADI and epigenetic aging as well as a subsequent CD-RISC x ADI interaction after covarying for chronological age, income, sex, lifetime trauma, lifetime tobacco and alcohol use, PTSD symptoms, and five estimated cell-type proportions. Higher ADI was associated with accelerated aging in GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE models (pscorrected <0.05) after adjusting for covariates. There was an ADI x CD-RISC interaction on GrimAge, such that the effect of neighborhood disadvantage was not significant among individuals with higher levels of individual psychological resources. Findings underscore a link between neighborhood disadvantage and accelerated biological aging and highlight several modifiable factors at both the neighborhood and individual levels associated with epigenetic age.

Annotation
The finding:
In this study of 203 individuals recruited from an emergency department following a traumatic injury, the authors examine the role of neighborhood disadvantage in driving epigenetic aging, as well as whether psychological resilience might protect against these effects. The authors found that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with accelerated aging specifically in 2nd and 3rd generation epigenetic clocks (which predict morbidity and mortality). They find that, for every 1 standard deviation increase in neighborhood deprivation, there is a 9-month to 1-year increase in epigenetic age. Furthermore, the authors find that, specifically for GrimAge higher resilience (as measured by CD-RISC) protected individuals against the negative effects of neighborhood deprivation on epigenetic aging.

Strength and weaknesses:
This study has several strengths, including the examination of multiple 2nd and 3rd generation epigenetic clocks, the use of multiple comparisons correction, and adjustment of a wide range of confounding factors, including individual income, smoking and alcohol use, lifetime trauma, and current PTSD symptoms. The multi-site design also enhances generalizability, particularly given the importance of location/neighborhood in the authors’ results. However, the inclusion only of trauma survivors (without a no-trauma comparison group), the observational nature of the study, and the lack of information about how long individuals have lived in the neighborhood are important limitations that prevent causal implication.

Relevance:
This study found that, in trauma-exposed individuals, higher neighborhood disadvantage is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging. Importantly, this study found that stronger psychological resilience may buffer against the effects of neighborhood disadvantage on accelerated aging. These findings underscore the interplay between social and psychological determinants of health and suggest that resilience-enhancing interventions may be particularly beneficial for individuals facing intersectional risk from both trauma exposure and neighborhood disadvantage.