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Racial Discrimination, Neural Connectivity, and Epigenetic Aging Among Black Women
Aziz Elbasheir1, Seyma Katrinli1, Breanne E Kearney2,3
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
JAMA Network Open
|June 13, 2024
Summary
Racial discrimination is linked to accelerated aging and altered brain connectivity in Black women. These changes in the locus coeruleus (LC) and precuneus may increase vulnerability to brain health issues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Racial discrimination is a known stressor linked to adverse brain health outcomes.
- Deep brain regions' role in these responses and links to epigenetic aging are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between racial discrimination, brainstem and midbrain resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), and DNA methylation age acceleration (DMAA) in Black women.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study of 90 Black women examined self-reported racial discrimination.
- Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) was analyzed using locus coeruleus (LC) seeds.
- DNA methylation age acceleration (DMAA) was assessed using whole-blood samples.
Main Results:
- Greater racial discrimination was associated with increased LC to precuneus RSFC.
- This altered connectivity indirectly linked racial discrimination to DMAA.
Conclusions:
- Racial discrimination may contribute to accelerated biological aging through altered LC-precuneus connectivity.
- These findings highlight a potential mechanism increasing vulnerability to brain health problems.
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