Substance use has been a topic of extensive research, particularly regarding its impact on health and longevity. A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence investigates the associations between various forms of substance use and epigenetic age acceleration, a measure of biological aging.
Background
Prior research has not thoroughly explored the relationship between clinically significant alcohol use, nicotine consumption, opioid use, and overall substance use disorder (SUD) severity with accelerated biological aging. This study aims to fill that gap by analyzing data from a large, state-representative sample.
Methods
The researchers analyzed data from 2,276 adults participating in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study in Indiana. Participants completed validated assessments of SUD severity, alcohol use, non-prescription and illicit opioid use, and nicotine use. Additionally, they provided saliva samples for DNA methylation profiling, which were used to measure biological aging through AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
Results
The findings revealed significant associations between substance use and biological aging:
- Binary measures of illicit opioid use showed a strong positive association with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
- Non-prescription opioid use also demonstrated a positive correlation with biological aging measures.
- Clinically significant alcohol use was positively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
- Cigarette smoking was positively associated with both biological aging measures across all levels of use.
- Interestingly, hookah use was negatively associated with AgeAccelGrim2, while vaping did not show any significant association when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
Conclusions
The study concludes that substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, is strongly linked to accelerated biological aging. These findings highlight the need for further research to understand the mechanisms connecting opioid use and vaping to biological aging.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish causation between substance use and accelerated biological aging, nor does it explore the underlying biological mechanisms involved.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Partial
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.