Neighborhood amenities, health services, and built infrastructure and epigenetic aging

Epigenetic aging has been proposed as an important biological pathway linking neighborhood environments to health. Yet, few studies have examined the effect of neighborhood resources on epigenetic aging. To fill this gap, this study aims to examine the effects of neighborhood amenities, health services, and built infrastructure on epigenetic aging.

Data were from 3786 participants in the Health and Retirement Study 2016 Venus Blood Study. Epigenetic aging was determined using Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE, which were linked to 13 Census-tract indicators reflecting the availability of local amenities, health services, and built infrastructure from the National Neighborhood Data Archive.

Greater availability of amenities, health services, and built infrastructure was associated with slower epigenetic age acceleration, though these relationships were significant only for Horvath and Hannum clocks. These associations were largely similar across sex, race, and ethnicity. In addition, built infrastructure was indirectly associated with slower epigenetic age acceleration, as indexed by PhenoAge, GrimAge2, and DunedinPACE, through increased physical activity.

Greater availability of local resources may slow down epigenetic aging. Given the effect of decelerated biological aging on reduced morbidity and mortality risk, our findings suggest that place-based interventions to boost local amenities, health services, and built infrastructure could be a promising strategy for promoting healthy aging.