Unlike a person’s chronological age, epigenetic age is determined by changes in DNA methylation over time. However, the relationship between epigenetic and physical aging is still unclear. A recent study found that, while women living with HIV in the U.S. had markers of faster epigenetic aging than HIV-negative controls, there was no difference in physical function by HIV serostatus, nor were the biomarkers associated with bone mineral density.
About This Study
“Epigenetic Aging and Musculoskeletal Outcomes in a Cohort of Women Living With HIV” was published online on Feb. 15, 2024, in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The lead author is Stephanie Shiau, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Key Research Findings
Researchers compared epigenetic biomarkers in 118 women living with HIV and 72 HIV-negative controls in the U.S. and investigated their association with physical function and bone mineral density. The mean age in both groups was 49-50 years, and 69% of each group were Black women. HIV-negative participants were more likely to currently smoke (71% vs. 50%), be obese (54% vs. 44%), and excessively consume alcohol (14% vs. 4%) than participants living with HIV.
Women living with HIV had significantly greater epigenetic age acceleration (mean standard deviation 1.44 versus -1.88) and shorter telomere length (7.13 versus 7.34) than HIV-negative participants. Independent of HIV serostatus, accelerated epigenetic aging was associated with worse balance and lower gait speed, but not with grip strength and other measures of physical function. Bone mineral density did not differ by epigenetic aging or HIV serostatus.
Discussion Highlights and Implications for Practice
Study limitations reported by the authors included the cross-sectional design, which does not allow for determining causality, no adjustment for inflammatory markers, the possibility that epigenetic markers differ by the specific tissue sampled, as well as the potential effect of substance use on epigenetic markers.
The researchers emphasized that while some biomarkers indicated greater epigenetic aging among women living with HIV compared to HIV-negative women, there was no difference in physical function by HIV serostatus, or in the markers associated with bone mineral density.
“[T]here is limited evidence to support associations between epigenetic changes and physical function. Larger studies and longitudinal studies are needed to more fully assess these potential associations,” study authors concluded.
By Barbara Jungwirth
Source : TheBodyPro
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