The epigenetic clock and pubertal, neuroendocrine, psychiatric, and cognitive outcomes in adolescents.
Clin Epigenetics
; 10(1): 96, 2018 07 18.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30021623
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Molecular aging biomarkers, such as epigenetic age predictors, predict risk factors of premature aging, and morbidity/mortality more accurately than chronological age in middle-aged and elderly populations. Yet, it remains elusive if such biomarkers are associated with aging-related outcomes earlier in life when individuals begin to diverge in aging trajectories. We tested if the Horvath epigenetic age predictor is associated with pubertal, neuroendocrine, psychiatric, and cognitive aging-related outcomes in a sample of 239 adolescents, 11.0-13.2 years-old.RESULTS:
Each year increase in epigenetic age acceleration (AA) was associated with 0.06 SD units higher weight-for-age, 0.08 SD units taller height-for-age, -0.09 SD units less missed from the expected adult height, 13 and 16% higher odds, respectively, for each stage increase in breast/genitals development on the Tanner Staging Questionnaire and pubertal stage on the Pubertal Development Scale, 4.2% higher salivary cortisol upon awakening, and 18 to 34% higher odds for internalizing and thought problems on the Child Behavior Checklist (p values < 0.045). AA was not significantly associated with cognition.CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that already in adolescence, AA is associated with physiological age acceleration, which may index risk of earlier aging. AA may identify individuals for preventive interventions decades before aging-related diseases become manifest.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aging
/
Hydrocortisone
/
Puberty
/
DNA Methylation
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Epigenetics
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Finland