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Investigating the Relationship between Epigenetic Age and Cardiovascular Risk in a Population with
Davide Marinello1, Chiara Favero1, Benedetta Albetti1
1EPIGET LAB, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2024-2027, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Biomedicines
|August 29, 2024
Summary
Cardiovascular risk factors accelerate epigenetic age (DNAm age) in individuals with overweight or obesity. This epigenetic age acceleration is linked to higher cardiovascular risk, suggesting DNAm age as a potential biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality, driven by modifiable risk factors like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
- Epigenetic age (DNAm age) reflects physiological health and may be influenced by cardiovascular risk factors.
- The Framingham risk score (FRS) is a standard measure of cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and DNAm age acceleration.
- To assess the association between DNAm age acceleration and cardiovascular risk using the FRS.
Main Methods:
- Study population: 190 overweight/obese individuals.
- DNAm age calculated using Zbieć-Piekarska et al.'s estimator on peripheral leucocyte DNA.
- Linear regression models used to analyze associations between risk factors, DNAm age acceleration, and FRS.
Main Results:
- DNAm age acceleration was significantly associated with increased systolic blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin.
- Diabetes, menopausal status, and elevated neutrophil and granulocyte counts were also linked to accelerated DNAm age.
- DNAm age acceleration was found to increase the Framingham risk score by 5.3%.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular risk factors accelerate DNAm age in overweight/obese individuals.
- DNAm age acceleration may serve as a novel biomarker for cumulative cardiovascular risk.
- This study provides the first evidence linking cardiovascular risk factors to accelerated DNAm age in this population.
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