Structural Disadvantage in Adolescence and Biological Aging in Early Midlife

Is adolescent exposure to structural disadvantage associated with epigenetic aging and inflammation-related DNA methylation (DNAm) among Black and White adults in early midlife?In this cohort study of 3788 Add Health respondents, greater exposure to structural disadvantage in adolescence was associated with accelerated epigenetic aging and greater C-reactive protein (CRP)–related DNAm. These associations were slightly negative for Black respondents, yet positive for White respondents.These findings suggest that early-life contexts are important factors for accelerated epigenetic aging and CRP-related DNAm, and they elucidate when and how disparities in aging-related diseases may emerge.

Corresponding Author: Taylor W. Hargrove, PhD, Department of Sociology, Southern Population Aging Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, 3119 Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Bldg, 3834 Campus Dr, College Park, MD 20742 (hargrovt@umd.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.