Epigenetic age and socioeconomic status contribute to racial disparities in cognitive and functional aging between Black and White older Americans
Year: 2023
Type: preprint
Abstract: Epigenetic age, a biological aging marker measured by DNA methylation, is a potential mechanism by which social factors drive disparities in age-related health. Epigenetic age gap is the residual between epigenetic age measures and chronological age. Previous studies showed associations between epigenetic age gap and age-related outcomes including cognitive capacity and performance on some functional measures, but whether epigenetic age gap contributes to disparities in these outcomes is unknown. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study to examine the role of epigenetic age gap in racial disparities in cognitive and functional outcomes and consider the role of socioeconomic status (SES). Epigenetic age measures are GrimAge or Dunedin Pace of Aging methylation (DPoAm). Cognitive outcomes are cross-sectional score and two-year change in Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS). Functional outcomes are prevalence and incidence of limitations performing Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). We find, relative to White participants, Black participants have lower scores and greater decline in TICS, higher prevalence and incidence rates of IADL limitations, and higher epigenetic age gap. Age- and gender-adjusted analyses reveal that higher GrimAge and DPoAm gap are both associated with worse cognitive and functional outcomes and mediate 6-11% of racial disparities in cognitive outcomes and 19-39% of disparities in functional outcomes. Adjusting for SES attenuates most DPoAm associations and most mediation effects. These results support that epigenetic age gap contributes to racial disparities in cognition and functioning and may be an important mechanism linking social factors to disparities in health outcomes.
Source: medRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Alzheimer's Association, Pennsylvania Department of Health, University of Pennsylvania, Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Population Science Research Center, Study of Cognitive Symptoms and Future Time Perspective in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease, G305460171, Biological Aging Contributions to Molecular Pathology and Neurodegeneration, Trajectories of Cognition in Middle Age: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in the U.S., G5363802006, Study of the Psychosocial Effects of Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease, Population Dynamics Research Center, Penn Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC)
OpenAlex ID: W4387244330