Substance use has been a topic of extensive research, particularly regarding its effects on health and aging. A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence examines the relationship between various forms of substance use and biological age acceleration. The research focuses on a population-based sample of adults and utilizes validated measures to assess substance use disorder (SUD) severity, alcohol consumption, and nicotine use.
What this study does not show
While the study identifies associations between substance use and biological aging, it does not establish causation or the underlying mechanisms linking these factors.
The study analyzed data from 2,276 adults participating in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study in Indiana. Participants provided saliva samples for DNA methylation profiling, which were used to measure biological aging through two methods: AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE. The researchers employed regression models to estimate the associations between substance use indicators and biological aging, adjusting for various covariates.
Key findings from the study indicate that:
- Binary measures of illicit opioid use and non-prescription opioid use were positively associated with both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
- Clinically significant alcohol use showed a positive association with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
- Cigarette smoking was positively associated with both biological aging measures at all levels of use, while hookah use was negatively associated with AgeAccelGrim2.
- Interestingly, vaping did not show an association with accelerated biological aging when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
The results suggest that substance use, particularly cigarette smoking and opioid use, is strongly linked to accelerated biological aging. This underscores the importance of further research to explore the mechanisms that may connect these behaviors to biological aging processes.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Not established
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.