The epigenetic clock and pubertal, neuroendocrine, psychiatric, and cognitive outcomes in adolescents

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Anna Suarez, University of Helsinki; Jari Lahti, University of Helsinki; Darina Czamara, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, University of Helsinki; Polina Girchenko, University of Helsinki; Sture Andersson, University of Helsinki; Timo E. Strandberg, University of Oulu; Rebecca M. Reynolds, University of Edinburgh; Eero Kajantie, National Institute for Health and Welfare; Elisabeth B. Binder, Emory University; Katri Raikkonen, University of Helsinki
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-07-18
• Publisher: BMC (part of Springer Nature)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 The Author(s).
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13148-018-0528-6
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Clinical Epigenetics
• ISSN: 1868-7075
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 96
• End Page: 96
• Grant/Funding Information: The GLAKU study is funded by the Academy of Finland, EraNetNeuron, EVO, University of Helsinki Research Funds, the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg, Emil Aaltonen, Novo Nordisk, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg, and Sigrid Juselius, the Finnish Medical and the British Heart Foundation, the European Commission Horizon 2020 Award SC1-2016-RTD-733280 RECAP and the Doctoral Programme of Psychology, Learning and Communication.
• Keywords: PREGNANCY; CHILDREN; MATERNAL LICORICE CONSUMPTION; ADRENOCORTICAL AXIS FUNCTION; AGE; CORTISOL; Oncology; MORTALITY; DNA METHYLATION; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; ALL-CAUSE; BIRTH
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology; Psychology, General; Psychology, Behavioral

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.