Substance use has been a topic of extensive research, particularly concerning its impact on health and longevity. A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence investigates the relationship between various forms of substance use and epigenetic age acceleration. The research highlights significant associations between substance use and biological aging, shedding light on the potential long-term effects of these behaviors.
What this study does not show
While the study identifies associations between substance use and epigenetic age acceleration, it does not establish causation or provide insights into the mechanisms underlying these relationships.
The study analyzed data from 2,276 adults participating in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study in Indiana. Participants completed validated assessments of substance use disorder (SUD) severity, alcohol use, and nicotine consumption, and provided saliva samples for DNA methylation profiling. The biological aging measures used in this study included AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
Regression models were employed to estimate the associations between substance use indicators and biological aging, adjusting for various covariates. The findings revealed that binary measures of illicit opioid use and non-prescription opioid use were positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. Specifically, illicit opioid use showed a strong association with biological aging (β=0.417, p=5.913e-11), while non-prescription opioid use also demonstrated significant links (β=0.264, p=1.744e-09).
Additionally, clinically significant alcohol use was positively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 (β=0.177, p=2.111e-08), although it did not show a similar association with DunedinPACE. The study also examined the impact of cigarette smoking, which was positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE across all levels of smoking. In contrast, hookah use was negatively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE. Interestingly, vaping did not show any association with accelerated biological aging when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
The authors conclude that substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, is strongly linked to accelerated biological aging. These findings highlight the importance of further research to explore the mechanisms that may connect opioid use and vaping to biological aging.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Not established
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.