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Exploring perinatal biopsychosocial factors and epigenetic age in 1-year-old offspring

Peter D Fransquet1, Jacqui A Macdonald1,2,3, Joanne Ryan4

  • 1Deakin University, Centre for Social & Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Epigenomics
|October 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal mental health, stress, and physical health during pregnancy influence epigenetic aging in infants. Factors like anxiety, BMI, and relationship quality are linked to differences in pediatric epigenetic clocks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric epigenetics
  • Developmental origins of health and disease

Background:

  • Epigenetic aging determinants in children are poorly understood.
  • Early life factors may significantly impact long-term health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate maternal factors associated with epigenetic aging in infants.
  • To explore links between maternal health indicators and pediatric epigenetic clocks.

Main Methods:

  • Epigenetic age estimation in 258 one-year-olds using pediatric buccal and Horvath clocks.
  • Assessment of maternal mental health, relational health, substance use, and physical health during the third trimester.

Main Results:

  • Maternal anxiety, stress, BMI, and relationship quality correlated with pediatric buccal epigenetic clock differences.
  • High blood pressure during pregnancy associated with Horvath age acceleration.
  • Third-trimester smoking and pre-pregnancy weight showed acceleration and deceleration, respectively, across both clocks.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple maternal factors during pregnancy may influence infant epigenetic age.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the health and developmental implications of these findings.

Keywords:
DNA methylationHorvathPedBEagingepigenetic clockmental healthpediatricsperinatalsubstance use

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