Abstract
Exploring the Biopsychosocial Pathways of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Epigenetic Biological Age Acceleration
Zoey Lai, PhD, Department of Sociology Michigan State University
Racial/ethnic health disparities in later life are substantial in the U.S. and will become increasingly important given impending demographic changes1. Black and Hispanic older adults face a disproportionate risk of earlier onset and greater severity of age-related diseases, potentially driven by chronic stress—a biological process referred to as “weathering” or “accelerated aging” (AA).2 Scientists have begun to capture changes in biological aging by examining alterations in DNA methylation (DNAm), as measured by epigenetic clocks, with DNAmAA occurring when epigenetic age exceeds chronological age (years since birth). 3 DNAmAA has been linked to progression of chronic diseases, dementia, cognitive decline, and shorter life spans4,5 and research finds that Black and Hispanic individuals have older epigenetic ages6 and report greater stress exposure7,8. However, Black and Hispanic individuals may appraise stressors differently or demonstrate greater resilience than their White peers9-12.
This pilot study will deepen understanding of the role of stress in racial/ethnic disparities in DNAmAA. We will use data from the Health and Retirement Study’s (HRS) 2016/2018 Leave Behind Questionnaire (LBQ) and the 2016 HRS-Venus Blood Study (VBS; n=4,018). Moreover, while the HRS offers 13 DNAm-based epigenetic clocks to assess DNAmAA18, not all of those clocks are strong predictors of stress exposure13. This study therefore focuses on 5 epigenetic clocks that are particularly sensitive to stress and physical health14,17,18.