The Impact of Psychosocial Stress from Life Trauma and Racial Discrimination on Epigenetic Aging-A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to explore the effects of psychosocial stress from life trauma and racial discrimination on epigenetic aging.

Design: A systematic review of the last 10 years was conducted using four databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and CINAHL.

Methods: Articles were identified using the following terms: ([(DNA methylation) AND (epigenetic clock)] OR [(DNA methylation) AND (epigenetic age)]) AND (discrimination OR trauma)). Original research articles published in English measuring life trauma, post-traumatic stress, experience of discrimination, and epigenetic clocks or aging were analyzed using PRISMA guidelines.

Results: Ten articles met inclusion criteria. The study sample size ranged from 96 to 1163 and most study populations had a mean age under 50 and included predominantly White male participants. One study identified accelerated epigenetic aging associated with discrimination using Hannum's clock; 33% of studies evaluating life trauma reported epigenetic age acceleration using GrimAge or Horvath's clock; 25% of studies evaluating childhood trauma reported epigenetic age acceleration using Horvath's clock; and 71% of studies assessing post-traumatic stress observed epigenetic age acceleration with all clocks, while one study reported deceleration using Horvath's clock.

Conclusions: The experiences of life trauma, post-traumatic stress, and discrimination may be associated with accelerated epigenetic aging that can be consistently detected using different epigenetic clocks. Additional studies inclusive of diverse populations and other psychosocial stressors are needed.

Relevance: Nursing scholars and other health scientists who utilize epigenetic age acceleration to assess health risks may need to consider including psychosocial stressors in their studies as covariates.

Keywords: DNA methylation age; DNA methylation age acceleration; epigenetic clock.

Figure 1.

Process of literature review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.