The association between epigenetic ageing from childhood to early adulthood and psychotic-like experiences in early adulthood
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are associated with cognitive impairment and premature mortality, which may be indicative of accelerated biological ageing. Epigenetic clocks provide a measure of biological age based on DNA methylation, yet the long-term relationship between epigenetic ageing and PLEs remains largely unclear. We tested the relationship between epigenetic ageing and PLEs using a 17-year longitudinal approach. Methods Epigenetic ageing was calculated using four epigenetic clocks (DunedinPACE, Cortical EpiAge, Horvath, and PCGrimAge) in a sample from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a large population-based birth cohort ( n = 1840, 56.8% females). We modeled epigenetic ageing from up to three repeated measures collected between ages 7 and 24 using a linear mixed-effects model to calculate (1) average epigenetic age [mean-centered intercept] and (2) rate of epigenetic ageing over this 17-year period [slope]. We then compared these two measures between individuals who developed PLEs in early adulthood ( n = 95) against those who did not ( n = 1745). Results Results showed that a faster rate (slope) of longitudinal PCGrimAge was predictive of PLEs (OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.13–2.85], p = .014), although this association was no longer significant after adjusting for smoking. There was a non-significant effect in the same direction for other clocks. Average epigenetic age (mean-centered intercept) was not associated with PLEs. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the observed association between accelerated rate of epigenetic ageing, measured with PCGrimAge, from childhood to early adulthood, and the development of PLEs in early adulthood may be explained by smoking.
Source: Psychological Medicine
Authors: Zoe Hart, Anna Großbach, Andrew J Simpkin, Esther Walton
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
Funders: Wellcome Trust, Government of the United Kingdom, UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, University of Bristol, National Institutes of Health, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Research Ireland
Awards: G106558557, G1067152967, G1323878664, G1684393010, G1793884970, Does epigenetic methylation explain the gender-switch in adolescent asthma?, G3345895242, Contaminant mixtures and human reproductive health - novel strategies for health impact and risk assessment of endocrine disrupters, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi- generation, longitudinal resource focusing on life course health and well- being., G3987754321, Accessible resource for integrated epigenomics studies (ARIES), G449453371, G5313676757, Accessible resource for integrated epigenomics studies (ARIES), G6751436026, G6970329059, “The glue that holds the pieces together”: Unlocking Cognitive Health in Psychotic Disorders, G817029010, G8858395165, G8991386735, G9000005374, G9000070660
OpenAlex ID: W4411779260