In a recent study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers investigated the relationship between substance use and epigenetic age acceleration. The study analyzed data from 2,276 adults participating in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study in Indiana, focusing on various substances including alcohol, tobacco, and opioids.
Background
Previous research has not adequately explored whether clinically significant alcohol use, nicotine consumption, opioid use, or overall substance use disorder (SUD) severity are associated with accelerated biological aging. This study aims to fill that gap by utilizing validated assessments and DNA methylation profiling to measure biological aging.
Methods
Participants completed assessments for SUD severity, alcohol use, and nicotine use, and provided saliva samples for DNA analysis. The biological aging measures included AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. Regression models were employed to estimate the associations between substance use indicators and biological aging, adjusting for relevant covariates.
Results
The findings revealed significant associations between various forms of substance use and biological aging:
- Binary measures of illicit opioid use showed a strong positive association with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE (β=0.417, p=5.913e-11; β=0.180, p=0.010).
- Non-prescription opioid use also demonstrated a positive correlation with biological aging measures (β=0.264, p=1.744e-09; β=0.127, p=0.008).
- A continuous measure of SUD severity was positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE (β=0.061, p=6.608e-06; β=0.039, p=0.008).
- Clinically significant alcohol use was positively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 (β=0.177, p=2.111e-08) but not with DunedinPACE.
- Cigarette smoking was positively associated with both biological aging measures at all levels of smoking.
- Hookah use showed a negative association with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
- Vaping was not associated with accelerated biological aging when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
These results suggest that substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, is strongly linked to accelerated biological aging.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish causation between substance use and biological aging, nor does it explore the underlying mechanisms linking these factors.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Partial
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.