Title | Testing Black-White Disparities in Biological Aging Among Older Adults in the United States: Analysis of DNA-Methylation and Blood-Chemistry Methods |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Graf, GH, Crowe, CL, Kothari, M, Kwon, D, Manly, JJ, Turney, IC, Valeri, L, Belsky, DW |
Journal | American Journal of Epidemiology |
Volume | 191 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 613-625 |
Keywords | aging clocks, biological aging, healthy aging, pace of aging, Racial Disparities |
Abstract | Biological aging is a proposed mechanism through which social determinants drive health disparities. We conducted proof-of-concept testing of 8 DNA-methylation (DNAm) and blood-chemistry quantifications of biological aging as mediators of disparities in healthspan between Black and White participants in the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 9,005). We quantified biological aging from 4 DNAm "clocks" (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, and GrimAge clock), a DNAm pace-of-aging measure (DunedinPoAm), and 3 blood-chemistry measures (PhenoAge, Klemera-Doubal method biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation). We quantified Black-White disparities in healthspan from cross-sectional and longitudinal data on physical performance tests, self-reported limitations in activities of daily living, and physician-diagnosed chronic diseases, self-rated health, and survival. DNAm and blood-chemistry quantifications of biological aging were moderately correlated (Pearson's r = 0.1-0.4). The GrimAge clock, DunedinPoAm, and all 3 blood-chemistry measures were associated with healthspan characteristics (e.g., mortality effect-size hazard ratios were 1.71-2.32 per standard deviation of biological aging) and showed evidence of more advanced/faster biological aging in Black participants than in White participants (Cohen's d = 0.4-0.5). These measures accounted for 13%-95% of Black-White differences in healthspan-related characteristics. Findings suggest that reducing disparities in biological aging can contribute to building health equity. |
DOI | 10.1093/aje/kwab281 |
Citation Key | Graf2021.03.02.21252685 |
PubMed ID | 34850809 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9077113 |