Adverse childhood experiences patterns and biological aging in a representative sample of older Americans

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common, co-occurring risk factors for poor long-term health. Emerging research links ACEs to accelerated biological aging, yet most studies rely on singular or cumulative indicators and often overlook differences by race, sex, and adversity type, potentially yielding imprecise estimates.

To identify latent ACEs classes by race and sex using latent class analysis (LCA) and examine their associations with biological aging measured by DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks.

We analyzed 3586 participants from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort of U.S. older adults. LCA identified ACEs classes based on nine indicators, including physical abuse, household substance use, and socioeconomic adversity. Biological aging was measured using GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPoAm clocks. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) was calculated as residuals of GrimAge/PhenoAge regressed on chronological age.

Latent Low Adversity and Financial Adversity classes were identified among Black and White participants, and among Hispanic participants we identified Parental Low Education and Socioeconomic Adversity classes. Men exhibited higher GrimAge EAA than women across all groups. Among Black and White women, Financial Adversity was associated with elevated GrimAge EAA and a faster DunedinPoAm pace compared to the Low Adversity group. Among Hispanic women, Socioeconomic Adversity was linked to higher PhenoAge EAA and faster DunedinPoAm pace relative to those in the Parental Low Education group.

Women in the adversity classes demonstrated more accelerated biological aging than those in low adversity classes. Findings underscore the value of intersectional, person-centered approaches to understanding adversity's role in biological aging and the need for targeted health interventions.