In a recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers explored the associations between substance use and epigenetic age acceleration. The study involved 2,276 adults from Indiana who participated in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study. Participants provided saliva samples for DNA methylation profiling and completed validated assessments of substance use disorder (SUD) severity, clinically significant alcohol use, and nicotine consumption.
The researchers utilized two measures of biological aging: AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. Their analysis 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 AgeAccelGrim2 (β=0.417, p=5.913e-11) and DunedinPACE (β=0.180, p=0.010). Similarly, non-prescription opioid use was linked to AgeAccelGrim2 (β=0.264, p=1.744e-09) and DunedinPACE (β=0.127, p=0.008).
Furthermore, the study found that a continuous measure of SUD severity was positively associated with both biological aging measures (AgeAccelGrim2: β=0.061, p=6.608e-06; DunedinPACE: β=0.039, p=0.008). Clinically significant alcohol use also demonstrated a positive association with AgeAccelGrim2 (β=0.177, p=2.111e-08), although it did not show a significant link with DunedinPACE.
Interestingly, the categorical measure of cigarette smoking was positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE across all levels of smoking. In contrast, hookah use was negatively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 at all levels but did not show a significant association with DunedinPACE. Vaping, when included in the same model as cigarette smoking, did not demonstrate any association with accelerated biological aging.
The findings of this study highlight the strong links between substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, and accelerated biological aging. The authors emphasize the need for further research to understand the mechanisms that connect opioid use and vaping to biological aging.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish causation between substance use and biological aging, nor does it provide insights into 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.