Epigenetic Predictors of Mortality and Neighborhood Disadvantage
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Background & Aims Neighborhood characteristics are strongly associated with mortality even in geographically restricted urban areas, i.e. within a single city. Accelerated epigenetic aging and mortality risk present a lens through which to quantify impacts of the neighborhood environment on health and wellness. These biomarkers may also be useful indicators of sensitivity to environmental exposures. Methods We examined associations between the built environment and epigenetic biomarkers of aging and mortality risk in an urban, majority Black population of Detroit, MI. Associations were adjusted for relevant confounders, evaluated in sex-stratified models, and examined for alteration by study participant's perception of their neighborhood. We examined greenspace as a possible beneficial neighborhood factor. In separate analyses, we examined if epigenetic aging biomarkers are indicators of sensitivity to air pollution in an urban population of central North Carolina. Results We observed significant associations between the built environment in each neighborhood and multiple epigenetic biomarkers of aging. These associations indicated that residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods accelerated the aging process and increased mortality risk. Associations were often stronger amongst women than men and were not impacted by individual neighborhood perception. Greenspace appeared to be a protective factor. In separate analyses, we observed that accelerated epigenetic aging increases health risks from traffic-related air pollution. Conclusion Neighborhood environmental characteristics are determinants of longevity and this may be reflected in aging biomarkers. These biomarkers have the potential to serve as both early indicators of health deterioration and indicators of beneficial environmental interventions, such as increasing greenspace. As these biomarkers may also be indicators of elevated environmental health risks, they may be indicative of relationships between neighborhood environmental factors whereby negative built environmental factors accelerate epigenetic aging thereby increasing both mortality risks and sensitivity to other environmental exposures such as air pollution. This abstract does not necessarily represent EPA policy.