Participants ranged in age from 21 to 25 and had completed surveys about their behavior at ages 12, 14 and 17. Most of the teens reported an overall healthy, active lifestyle, but the researchers classified two groups as having unhealthy lifestyles. One group had a higher body mass index score — an approximate measure of whether a person is at a healthy weight based on their height and body mass. The other group smoked regularly, drank alcohol, and did not exercise regularly.
The team included DNA methylation, chemical tags on DNA that can turn gene expression on or off, in blood samples taken from participants. They used several algorithms or ‘epigenetic clocks’ – biochemical tests based on DNA methylation levels – to determine whether individuals were experiencing accelerated biological aging, and to see whether unhealthy behaviors and There was no association between more rapid ageing.
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Overall, the clocks suggested that individuals in the two groups classified as unhealthy behaviors were, on average, 1.7 to 3.3 years older, who reported more healthy lifestyles during their teen years. This equates to about 2 to 3 weeks of rapid aging each calendar year. Results varied depending on the epigenetic clock they used, but the link between lifestyle and accelerated aging was mainly due to shared genetics.
“Previous studies in twins have shown that lifestyle and biological aging are largely inherited,” Knaknapp says. “Our study suggests that genetics may underlie the link between unhealthy behaviors and accelerated aging.”
Studies benefit from large sample sizes, extended follow-up on participants, and inclusion of individuals with shared genetic backgrounds. However, because adolescents reported their own activities, the authors state that some people falsely attributed healthy behaviors to appear more virtuous, which may have worsened some outcomes.
More studies are needed to fully separate the role of genetics in lifestyle habits and how these habits affect biological aging in adolescents. Genes that contribute to obesity or substance use may directly cause biological aging, or genes may indirectly accelerate aging by contributing to harmful behaviors that lead to cell damage.
“Learning more about the aging process and the role genetics plays in it may help us identify people early in life who may be at risk for unhealthy behaviors during adolescence or who rapidly increase later in life.” can be prone to aging and related diseases,” concluded Senior. The author is Alina Silnap, Associate Professor at the Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvskyl.
“Early identification of at-risk individuals may allow for earlier interventions to change behavior and prevent poor health outcomes later in life.”
Source: Eurekalert
