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Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Trauma on Cellular Aging
Published on: March 22, 2024
Delay discounting, genetic sensitivity, and leukocyte telomere length
Onn-Siong Yim1, Xing Zhang2, Idan Shalev3
1Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117570; Human Genetics Lab, Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228;
Impatience, measured by delay discounting, is linked to shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of cellular aging. Genetic factors, including oxytocin and estrogen receptor genes, influence this relationship in females.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Genetics
- Aging Research
Background:
- Growing interest in early-life correlates of aging in a global aging population.
- Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a cellular aging biomarker, but its connection to decision-making, specifically impatience, is under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between impatience and LTL.
- To explore potential genetic modulation of the impatience-LTL relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an incentivized delay discounting task to measure impatience in 1,158 Han Chinese undergraduates.
- Assessed LTL as a biomarker of cellular aging.
- Examined the influence of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) rs53576 and estrogen receptor β gene (ESR2) rs2978381 polymorphisms.
Main Results:
- Steeper delay discounting (higher impatience) was negatively correlated with LTL.
- This association remained significant after controlling for health and risk attitude.
- LTL was more sensitive to impatience in females than males.
- Specific OXTR and ESR2 polymorphisms mitigated the negative impact of impatience on LTL in females.
Conclusions:
- Impatience is associated with accelerated cellular aging, indicated by shorter LTL.
- Genetic variations in oxytocin and estrogen receptors play a protective role against impatience-driven cellular aging in young females.
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