Life Course Socioeconomic Disadvantage and the Aging Immune System: Findings From the Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Previous research has documented a consistent association between current socioeconomic status (SES) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Early life is likely a critical period for CMV exposure and immune development, but less is known about early-life socioeconomic factors and CMV, particularly in older age populations. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we investigated the association between life course socioeconomic disadvantage and immune response to CMV among older adults.

Methods

Using ordered logit models, we estimated associations between several measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and the odds of being in a higher CMV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response category in a sample of 8,168 respondents aged older than 50 years.

Results

We found a signi

SUBMITTER: Noppert GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8200359 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature