Epigenetic aging has emerged as a significant biological pathway that connects neighborhood environments to health outcomes. This study, conducted by Jiang et al., aims to explore the effects of neighborhood amenities, health services, and built infrastructure on epigenetic aging, filling a notable gap in existing research.
Methods
The research utilized data from 3,786 participants in the Health and Retirement Study 2016 Venus Blood Study. Epigenetic aging was assessed using several epigenetic clocks, including Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE. These measures were linked to 13 Census-tract indicators that reflected the availability of local amenities, health services, and built infrastructure, sourced from the National Neighborhood Data Archive.
Results
The findings indicated that a greater availability of neighborhood amenities, health services, and built infrastructure was associated with slower epigenetic age acceleration. Notably, these relationships were statistically significant for the Horvath and Hannum clocks. The study also found that these associations were consistent across different demographics, including sex, race, and ethnicity.
Additionally, the research highlighted that built infrastructure had an indirect association with slower epigenetic age acceleration, as measured by PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE, primarily through increased physical activity among residents.
Conclusion
The results suggest that enhancing local resources may contribute to slowing down epigenetic aging. This deceleration in biological aging could lead to reduced morbidity and mortality risks. Therefore, the authors propose that place-based interventions aimed at improving local amenities, health services, and infrastructure could serve as effective strategies for promoting healthy aging.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish a direct causal relationship between neighborhood resources and epigenetic aging, nor does it provide evidence of specific health outcomes resulting from these associations.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: established
- Clinical validity: not established
- Clinical utility: not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.