Conceptual and Analytical Overlap Between Allostatic Load and Systemic Biological Aging Measures: Analyses From the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Indices quantifying allostatic load (AL) and biological aging (BA) have independently received widespread use in epidemiological literature. However, little attention has been paid to their conceptual and quantitative overlap. By reviewing literature utilizing measures of AL and BA, and conducting comparative analysis, we highlight similarities and differences in biological markers employed and approach toward scale construction. Further, we outline opportunities where both types of indices might be improved by adopting methodological features of the other. METHODS: Using data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (N = 2055, age = 26-86), we constructed 3 AL indices: 1 common literature standard and 2 alternative formulations informed by previous work with measures of BA. The performance of AL indices was juxtaposed against 2 commonly employed BA indices: Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age and Homeostatic Dysregulation. RESULTS: All indices correlated with chronological age. Participants with higher AL and older BA performed worse on tests of physical and subjective functioning. Further, participants with increased life-course risk exposure exhibited higher AL and BA. Notably, alternative AL formulations tended to exhibit effect sizes equivalent to or larger than those observed for BA measures, and displayed superior mortality prediction. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to their conceptual similarity, AL and BA indices also exhibit significant analytical similarity. Further, BA measures are robust to construction using a panel of biomarkers not observed in previous iterations, including carotenoids indexing antioxidant capacity. In turn, AL indices could benefit by adopting the methodological rigor formalized within BA composites, such as applying biomarker down-selection criteria.
Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Center for Research Resources, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Awards: Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science (GHUCCTS), The Comparability and Reproducibility of Telomere Length Measurements for Population-based Studies, G2950713408, G420700271, Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (UW-Madison)(UL1), G4485944526, G4570830229, G562934659, G587811962, Integrative Pathways to Health and Illness, University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Psychosocial Determinants and Biological Pathways to Healthy Aging (Pathways), Integrative Pathways to Health and Illness, UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute
OpenAlex ID: W3176858068