Substance use has long been a subject of interest in understanding its effects on health and longevity. Recent research has delved into the relationship between substance use and biological aging, specifically through the lens of epigenetic age acceleration. This article discusses findings from a study that analyzed data from 2,276 adults in Indiana, focusing on the impact of various substances on biological aging.
Background
The study aimed to fill a gap in existing research by assessing whether clinically significant measures of alcohol use, nicotine consumption, opioid use, and substance use disorder (SUD) severity correlate with accelerated biological aging. The authors utilized validated assessments and DNA methylation profiling to measure biological aging.
Methods
Participants in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study provided saliva samples for DNA analysis and completed assessments regarding their substance use. Biological aging was measured using two methods: AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. Regression models were employed to evaluate the associations between substance use indicators and biological aging, adjusting for various covariates.
Results
The analysis revealed several significant findings:
- Binary measures of illicit opioid use showed a strong positive association with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
- Non-prescription opioid use also correlated positively with biological aging measures.
- Clinically significant alcohol use was positively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
- Cigarette smoking was linked to accelerated biological aging across all levels of use, while hookah use exhibited a negative association with AgeAccelGrim2.
- Vaping did not show a significant association with biological aging when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
Conclusions
The findings suggest a strong link between substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, and accelerated biological aging. This underscores the importance of further research into the mechanisms that may connect substance use to biological aging processes.
What this study does not show
While the study identifies associations between substance use and biological aging, it does not establish causation or the underlying mechanisms responsible for these associations.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: established
- Clinical validity: partial
- Clinical utility: not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.