Substance use has been a topic of extensive research, particularly regarding its impact on health and longevity. Recent findings from a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence explore the relationship between various forms of 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 the links between substance use disorder (SUD) severity and biological aging.
Background
Prior research has often overlooked the connection between clinically significant alcohol use, nicotine consumption, opioid use, and the acceleration of biological aging. This study aims to fill that gap by utilizing validated assessments of substance use and DNA methylation profiling to measure biological aging through established metrics.
Methods
Participants in the study completed assessments regarding their SUD severity, alcohol use, and nicotine consumption, while also providing saliva samples for DNA analysis. Two primary measures of biological aging were employed: AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. Regression models were utilized to estimate the associations between substance use indicators and biological aging, controlling for various covariates.
Results
The findings revealed significant associations between certain types of substance use and accelerated biological aging. Specifically:
- Illicit opioid use and non-prescription opioid use were positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
- Clinically significant alcohol use showed a positive association with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
- Cigarette smoking was positively associated with both measures of biological aging across all levels of use.
- Interestingly, hookah use was negatively associated with AgeAccelGrim2, while vaping did not show a significant association when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
These results indicate that substance use, particularly opioid use and cigarette smoking, is strongly linked to accelerated biological aging.
What this study does not show
While the study identifies associations between substance use and biological aging, it does not establish causation or explore the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to these observed effects.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Not established
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.