Epigenetic aging has emerged as a significant biological pathway that connects neighborhood environments to health outcomes. Despite its importance, there has been limited research examining how neighborhood resources influence epigenetic aging. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the impact of neighborhood amenities, health services, and built infrastructure on epigenetic aging.
The research utilized data from 3,786 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, specifically the 2016 Venus Blood Study. To determine epigenetic aging, the study employed various epigenetic clocks, including Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE. These measures were correlated with 13 Census-tract indicators that reflect the availability of local amenities, health services, and built infrastructure, sourced from the National Neighborhood Data Archive.
Findings indicated that greater availability of neighborhood amenities, health services, and built infrastructure was associated with slower epigenetic age acceleration. Notably, these significant relationships were primarily observed with the Horvath and Hannum clocks. The results showed consistency across different demographics, including sex, race, and ethnicity.
Moreover, the study revealed that built infrastructure had an indirect association with slower epigenetic age acceleration, as measured by PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE, through increased physical activity levels among residents. This suggests that improved infrastructure may encourage more active lifestyles, contributing to healthier aging.
The implications of these findings are substantial. The research suggests that enhancing local resources could be a viable strategy for promoting healthy aging. By focusing on place-based interventions that increase the availability of amenities, health services, and infrastructure, communities may effectively slow down biological aging and reduce risks associated with morbidity and mortality.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish a direct causal relationship between neighborhood resources and epigenetic aging, nor does it measure specific health outcomes resulting from these associations.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Not established
- Clinical utility: Not established