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. 2025 Jun 16:10.1037/hea0001523.
doi: 10.1037/hea0001523. Online ahead of print.

Lifetime trauma exposure and accelerated epigenetic aging among midlife women

Rebecca C Thurston  1 , Caroline Y Doyle  1 , Cynthia D J Kusters  2 , Yuefang Chang  3 , Karestan Koenen  4 , Pauline Maki  5 , Judith E Carroll  6
Affiliations

Lifetime trauma exposure and accelerated epigenetic aging among midlife women

Rebecca C Thurston et al. Health Psychol. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: Trauma exposure may be linked to accelerated biological aging. However, studies have largely considered childhood abuse, with limited consideration of lifetime trauma exposure, particularly for women. Furthermore, few studies have considered newer epigenetic clocks, which have enhanced links with health outcomes. Among midlife women, we investigated whether lifetime trauma exposure is associated with older epigenetic age with several generations of clocks. We explored associations between childhood maltreatment and epigenetic age and racial differences in associations between trauma and epigenetic age.

Method: Two hundred sixteen women (Mage = 59 years, 83% non-Hispanic White, 13% Black, and 4% other race/ethnicities) underwent physical measures, questionnaires to assess lifetime trauma exposure, and a blood draw. A subset of 123 women completed childhood maltreatment measures. Extrinsic epigenetic age, GrimAge, principal component-based PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE were calculated. Clocks were residualized for age and Z-scored for analysis. Associations between trauma and epigenetic age were estimated in linear regression (covariates race, education, body mass index, and estimated cell counts). Interactions by race were tested.

Results: Relative to women without trauma exposure, those with ≥ 2 lifetime traumas had older epigenetic age, GrimAge, 1: B (SE) = 0.15 (0.15), p = .31, 2+: B (SE) = 0.39 (0.13), p = .004; DunedinPACE, 1: B (SE) = 0.23 (0.12), p = .07, 2+: B (SE) = 0.33 (0.11), p = .003. Childhood sexual abuse was also associated with older epigenetic age, GrimAge: B (SE) = 0.56 (0.24), p = .021. Exploratory models suggested that trauma was related to epigenetic age primarily among Black women.

Conclusion: Among midlife women, greater lifetime trauma and possibly childhood sexual abuse were associated with older epigenetic age, independent of chronologic age. Black women may be particularly affected. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objetivo.: La exposición a traumas puede estar relacionada con un envejecimiento biológico acelerado. Sin embargo, los estudios han considerado principalmente el abuso infantil, con poca consideración de la exposición a traumas a lo largo de la vida, especialmente en mujeres. Además, pocos estudios han considerado los relojes epigenéticos más recientes, que han mejorado su relación con los resultados de salud. En mujeres de mediana edad, investigamos si la exposición a traumas a lo largo de la vida se asocia con una edad epigenética más avanzada, utilizando varias generaciones de relojes epigenéticos. Exploramos las asociaciones entre el maltrato infantil y la edad epigenética, así como las diferencias raciales en las asociaciones entre el trauma y la edad epigenética.

Métodos.: Doscientas dieciséis mujeres (edad media = 59 años; 83% Blancas no Hispanas, 13% Negras, 4% de otras razas/etnias) se sometieron a mediciones físicas, cuestionarios para evaluar la exposición a traumas a lo largo de la vida y a una extracción de sangre. Un subgrupo de 123 mujeres completó mediciones de maltrato infantil. Se calcularon la edad epigenética extrínseca, “GrimAge”, “PhenoAge” basado en componentes principales y “DunedinPACE.” Los relojes se residualizaron para la edad y se les asignó una puntuación Z para el análisis. Las asociaciones entre el trauma y la edad epigenética se estimaron mediante regresión lineal (covariables: raza, educación, índice de masa corporal y recuento celular estimado). Se evaluaron las interacciones según la raza.

Resultados.: En comparación con las mujeres sin exposición a traumas, aquellas con ≥2 traumas a lo largo de la vida presentaron una edad epigenética mayor [GrimAge: 1: B(SE)=0.15(0.15), p=0.31; 2+: B(SE)=0.39(0.13), p=0.004; DunedinPACE: 1: B(SE)=0.23(0.12), p=0.07; 2+: B(SE)=0.33(0.11), p=0.003]. El abuso sexual infantil también se asoció con una edad epigenética mayor [GrimAge: B(SE)=0.56(0.24), p=0.021]. Los modelos exploratorios sugirieron que el trauma se relacionaba con la edad epigenética principalmente en mujeres Negras.

Conclusiones.: Entre las mujeres de mediana edad, un mayor trauma a lo largo de la vida y posiblemente abuso sexual infantil se asociaron con una edad epigenética más avanzada, independientemente de la edad cronológica. Las mujeres Negras podrían verse particularmente afectadas.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Thurston is consultant / advisor for Astellas, Bayer, Hello Therapeutics. Dr. Koenen is consultant for Baker Hostetler, Discovery Vitality, U.S. Department of Justice; paid external reviewer for the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, University of Cape Town, Capita Ireland; paid speaker at American Psychological Association, European Central Bank, Sigmund Freud University – Milan, Cambridge Health Alliance, Coverys; royalties from Guilford Press and Oxford University Press. Dr. Maki is consultant for Bayer, Astellas, Estrigenix, and Respin. She has equity in Estrigenix, Respin, and Midi-health. Drs. Doyle, Kusters, Chang, Carroll have no interests to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Associations between trauma exposure and GrimAge (A) and DunedinPACE (B) by race Note: Black women with no trauma, n=14; one or more traumatic events, n=16. White women with no trauma, n=58; one or more traumatic events, n=125; *p<0.05 for trauma/no trauma comparisons stratified by race
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Associations between trauma exposure and GrimAge (A) and DunedinPACE (B) by race Note: Black women with no trauma, n=14; one or more traumatic events, n=16. White women with no trauma, n=58; one or more traumatic events, n=125; *p<0.05 for trauma/no trauma comparisons stratified by race
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