Journal Article Epublish 2 citations
PubMed: 40407423 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes9020014
Discrimination, Coping, and DNAm Accelerated Aging Among African American Mothers of the InterGEN Study.
Epigenomes 9(2)
Authors: Alexandria Nyembwe, Yihong Zhao, Billy A Caceres, Daniel W Belsky, Calen Patrick Ryan, Brittany Taylor, Morgan T Morrison, Laura Prescott, Stephanie Potts-Thompson, Arezo Aziz, Fisola Aruleba, Erica Matute-Arcos, Olajide Williams, Cindy Crusto, Jacquelyn Y Taylor
Affiliations
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, 854 Health Sciences Rd. Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
- Center for Research on People of Color, School of Nursing, Columbia University, 560 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA.
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
- School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
- School of Medicine, The City College of New York (CUNY), Harris Hall, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA.
- Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA.
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), 1975 Zonal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Abstract
Background: Racial discrimination experiences are associated with the activation of stress biology pathways and signs of accelerated biological aging, including alterations in DNA methylation (DNAm). Coping strategies may mitigate stress from racial discrimination and protect against long-term adverse health outcomes. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure cohort, an all-African-American sample, to test the hypothesis that social support can protect against accelerated biological aging associated with experiences of racial discrimination. We measured biological aging from saliva DNAm using six epigenetic clocks. Clock values were residualized on participant age and the estimated proportion of epithelial cells contributing to the DNA sample and standardized to M = 0, SD = 1 within the analysis sample. The primary analysis was focused on the second-generation PhenoAge and GrimAge clocks and the third-generation DunedinPACE "speedometer," which previous studies have linked with racial discrimination. Results: In our sample (n = 234; mean age = 31.9 years; SD = 5.80), we found evidence consistent with our hypothesis in the case of the PhenoAge clock, but not the other clocks. Among mothers who did not seek social support, experiences of racial discrimination were associated with an older PhenoAge (b = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.02-0.50, p = 0.03). However, social-support seeking mitigated this risk; at the highest levels of social support, no adverse consequences of discrimination were observed (interaction b = -0.01, 95% CI = -0.02--0.00, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The replication of results is needed. Future research should also investigate additional adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies utilized by African American women and mothers to identify protective measures that influence health outcomes.
MeSH
Mothers, Aging, Stress, Physiological, Racism