Abstract:
Background: Early adversity increases the risk for mental and physical disorders as well as premature death. Epigenetic processes, and altered epigenetic aging in particular, might mediate these effects. While the literature that examined links between early adversity and epigenetic aging is growing, results have been heterogeneous.Objective: In the current work, we explored the link between early adversity and epigenetic aging in a sample of formerly out-of-home placed young adults.Method: A total of N = 117 young adults (32% women, age mean = 26.3 years, SD = 3.6 years) with previous youth residential care placements completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Life Events Checklist (LEC-R) and provided blood samples for the analysis of DNA methylation using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip Microarray. Epigenetic age was estimated using Hovarth\'s and Hannum\'s epigenetic clocks. Furthermore, Hovarth\'s and Hannum\'s epigenetic age residuals were calculated as a proxy of epigenetic aging by regressing epigenetic age on chronological age. The statistical analysis plan was preregistered (https://osf.io/b9ev8).Results: Childhood trauma (CTQ) was negatively associated with Hannum\'s epigenetic age residuals, β = -.23, p = .004 when controlling for sex, BMI, smoking status and proportional white blood cell type estimates. This association was driven by experiences of physical neglect, β = -.25, p = .001. Lifetime trauma exposure (LEC-R) was not a significant predictor of epigenetic age residuals.Conclusion: Childhood trauma, and physical neglect in particular, was associated with decelerated epigenetic aging in our sample. More studies focusing on formerly institutionalized at-risk populations are needed to better understand which factors affect stress-related adaptations following traumatic experiences.
Growing literature links early adversity to altered epigenetic aging, yet results have been heterogeneous.We assessed childhood and lifetime trauma exposure using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Life Events Checklist and estimated epigenetic aging by obtaining Horvath’s and Hannum’s epigenetic age residuals in a sample of formerly out-of-home placed young adults.In this high-risk sample, childhood trauma, physical neglect in particular, but not lifetime trauma was negatively related to epigenetic aging.
摘要:
背景:早期逆境会增加精神和身体疾病以及过早死亡的风险。表观遗传过程,特别是改变了表观遗传衰老,可能会调解这些影响。虽然研究早期逆境与表观遗传衰老之间联系的文献越来越多,结果是异质的。目的:在目前的工作中,我们在一个以前在家中放置的年轻成年人的样本中探索了早期逆境与表观遗传衰老之间的联系.方法:共N=117名年轻成年人(32%为女性,平均年龄=26.3岁,SD=3.6年)与以前的青年住宿护理安置一起完成了《儿童创伤问卷》(CTQ)和《生活事件清单》(LEC-R),并提供了血液样本,用于使用IlluminaInfinium甲基化EPICBeadChip微阵列分析DNA甲基化。表观遗传年龄是使用Hovarth和Hannum的表观遗传时钟估算的。此外,Hovarth和Hannum的表观遗传年龄残差是通过将表观遗传年龄与实际年龄回归来计算表观遗传衰老的代表。统计分析计划已预先注册(https://osf.io/b9ev8)。结果:儿童创伤(CTQ)与Hannum的表观遗传年龄残差呈负相关,β=-.23,p=.004,控制性别时,BMI,吸烟状况和比例白细胞类型估计。这种联系是由身体忽视的经历驱动的,β=-.25,p=.001。终身创伤暴露(LEC-R)不是表观遗传年龄残差的重要预测指标。结论:儿童创伤,特别是身体上的忽视,在我们的样本中与表观遗传衰老减速有关。需要更多针对以前制度化的高危人群的研究,以更好地了解哪些因素会影响创伤经历后与压力相关的适应。
越来越多的文献将早期逆境与表观遗传衰老的改变联系起来,然而,结果是异质的。我们使用《儿童创伤问卷》和《生活事件清单》评估了儿童和一生的创伤暴露,并通过在以前外出放置的年轻人的样本中获得Horvath和Hannum的表观遗传年龄残差来估计表观遗传衰老。在这个高风险样本中,童年创伤,特别是身体上的忽视,但终生创伤与表观遗传衰老呈负相关。