Early life adversity predicts an accelerated cellular aging phenotype through early timing of puberty.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The current study examined if early adversity was associated with accelerated biological aging, and if effects were mediated by the timing of puberty.

Methods

In early mid-life, 187 Black and 198 White (M_age = 39.4, s.d._age = 1.2) women reported on early abuse and age at first menstruation (menarche). Women provided saliva and blood to assess epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein. Using structural equation modeling, we created a latent variable of biological aging using epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein as indicators, and a latent variable of early abuse using indicators of abuse/threat events before age 13, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. We estimated the indirect effects of early abuse an

SUBMITTER: Hamlat EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11131158 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature