The study titled ‘Substance use and epigenetic age acceleration: Associations with alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and SUD severity’ explores the relationship between various forms of substance use and biological aging. Conducted by researchers from the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research and the University of Michigan, this research analyzed data from 2276 adults participating in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study in Indiana.
Participants provided saliva samples for DNA methylation profiling and completed validated assessments of substance use disorder (SUD) severity, clinically significant alcohol use, non-prescription and illicit opioid use, and nicotine use. The study employed measures of biological aging, specifically AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE, to evaluate the impact of substance use on biological aging.
Findings from the regression models indicated significant associations between certain substance use indicators and accelerated biological aging. Notably, binary measures of illicit opioid use and non-prescription opioid use were positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. Additionally, clinically significant alcohol use was positively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
Furthermore, cigarette smoking showed a consistent positive association with both measures of biological aging across all levels of smoking. In contrast, hookah use was negatively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 but did not show a significant relationship with DunedinPACE. Interestingly, vaping was not associated with accelerated biological aging when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
The results underscore the strong link between substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, and accelerated biological aging. The authors highlight the need for further research to explore the mechanisms through which opioid use and vaping may contribute to 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 involved.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Partial
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.