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Updated: May 10, 2025
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Published on: November 30, 2015
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Accelerated Epigenetic Aging and Prospective Morbidity and Mortality Among U.S. Veterans
Kyle J Bourassa1,2, Livia Anderson3, Sandra Woolson3
1VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Summary
Accelerated epigenetic aging, measured by DunedinPACE, predicts increased chronic disease, higher healthcare costs, and mortality in veterans. This biomarker offers insights into long-term health trajectories and risks.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epigenetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Epigenetic aging measures show potential as surrogate health outcomes in clinical studies.
- Their real-world utility depends on associations with prospective health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between accelerated epigenetic aging (DunedinPACE) and prospective chronic disease, healthcare costs, and mortality.
- To validate DunedinPACE as a biomarker in a veteran population using electronic health records.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 2,216 post-9/11 veterans.
- Assessment of DunedinPACE for accelerated epigenetic aging.
- Longitudinal follow-up (average 13.1 years) using electronic health records for chronic disease, healthcare costs, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Faster DunedinPACE aging correlated with increased chronic disease incidence over 5, 10, and 15 years.
- Accelerated aging predicted higher healthcare costs and increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, cancer, liver, and renal diseases.
- Faster epigenetic aging was linked to a significantly higher risk of all-cause and chronic disease mortality.
Conclusions:
- DunedinPACE serves as a valid biomarker for accelerated aging.
- This biomarker prospectively correlates with chronic disease morbidity and mortality in an integrated healthcare system.
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