Journal article
Associations between Loneliness, Epigenetic Aging, and Multimorbidity through Older Adulthood
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Vol.79(12), gbae169
12/01/2024
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae169
PMCID: PMC11565192
PMID: 39417537
Abstract
Loneliness is a pressing public health concern, but the mechanisms by which it leads to declining physical health are uncertain. Prior work has begun to explore epigenetic pathways, with some evidence suggesting a link between loneliness and DNA methylation, though it is unclear whether epigenetic variation can help explain loneliness-health associations.
Associations between loneliness and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) were estimated, as well as the degree to which EAA mediated and moderated the association between loneliness and the development of chronic physical health conditions (multimorbidity) in older adulthood. The sample consisted of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants who provided blood draws and consented to methylation profiling (n=4,018).
Baseline loneliness was associated with greater EAA in the GrimAge measure net of demographic and behavioral covariates (β=0.07, p=.003). Loneliness and GrimAge each predicted increasing condition counts, but there was no evidence of an interactive effect. The association between loneliness and increasing condition counts was, however, significantly mediated by GrimAge (indirect path β=0.020, p=.003).
These results suggest that the impact of loneliness on multimorbidity may, in part, operate through DNA methylation. The specific intermediary, physiological mechanisms that are involved will require further research, but EAA measures like GrimAge are promising in helping to understand the health impacts of loneliness.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Associations between Loneliness, Epigenetic Aging, and Multimorbidity through Older Adulthood
- Creators
- Colin D Freilich - University of MinnesotaKristian E Markon - University of MinnesotaFrank D Mann - Stony Brook SchoolSteve W Cole - University of California, Los AngelesRobert F Krueger - University of Minnesota
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Vol.79(12), gbae169
- DOI
- 10.1093/geronb/gbae169
- PMID
- 39417537
- PMCID
- PMC11565192
- NLM abbreviation
- J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
- ISSN
- 1758-5368
- eISSN
- 1758-5368
- Publisher
- OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
- Grant note
- National Institute on Aging: R01AG053217, R01AG077742, R21AG074705, U19AG51426 National Institute on Drug Abuse: T32DA050560 Social Security Administration: U01AG009740 Social Security Administration fund the broader Health and Retirement Study
This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging (grant numbers R01AG053217 and R01AG077742 [to R. F. Krueger], R21AG074705-01 [to F. D. Mann], U19AG51426 [to R. F. Krueger, S. W. Cole, and K. E. Markon]), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32DA050560 [to C. D. Freilich]), and the Social Security Administration. Grant U01AG009740 and the Social Security Administration fund the broader Health and Retirement Study, while the other grants provide support for the authors' time.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/17/2024
- Date published
- 12/01/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984737136602771
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