Genome-wide association and epidemiological evidence linking air pollution to aging mechanisms

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of air pollution on aging and aging-related diseases, focusing on potential causal relationships and molecular mechanisms. The first part involved a comprehensive analysis of global studies, examining the associations among PM_2.5 exposure, telomere length, and sarcopenia incidence. The second part employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore potential causal association between PM_2.5 exposure and shorter telomere length. Additionally, network analysis was conducted to identify the molecular pathways potentially linking PM_2.5 to telomere length. Furthermore, extensive phenotypic association studies on aging have been performed. The comprehensive analysis indicated that PM_2.5 exposure was associated with shorter telomere length and a greater incidence of sarcopenia. MR analysis provided evidence for a potential causal relationship between PM_2.5 exposure and shorter telomere length. The network analysis results suggested several possible pathways for the association between PM_2.5 and telomere length. Further phenotypic association studies on aging revealed a link between telomere length and the development of certain tumors. This integrative study provides novel evidence supporting a putative causal pathway from air pollution exposure to accelerated biological aging and aging-related diseases. These findings underscore the need for policies that reduce air pollution exposure and for more effective public health interventions.

Keywords: Aging; Air pollution; Causal effect; PM(2.5); Telomere length.