Abstract P180: Relative Contributions Of Six Lifestyle Components To Epigenetic Aging In The Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Abstract

Background: DNA methylation-based epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) is associated with age-related health outcomes including cardiovascular disease. Since DNA methylation is modifiable by external stimuli, including lifestyle components, interventions for healthier lifestyles could contribute to decreased risk of health conditions related to epigenetic changes including EAA. In consideration of public health intervention, it is also important to identify which lifestyle components have the greatest impact on EAA. Here, we assessed the relative contributions of lifestyle components to EAA, as well as their collective association. Methods: We included 744 participants (391 men and 353 women) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study with DNA methylation information at Y20 (2005-2006, mean age 45.9). Six lifestyle components at Y20 were included in the analysis: cumulative smoking, cumulative alcohol consumption, education, diet, sleep, and physical activity. We used quantile-based g-computation (QGC) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) methods to assess the relative contribution of each lifestyle component to EAA. We also assessed overall association of the six lifestyle components as a combination with EAA. Finally, we performed stratified analyses by participants’ smoking history, race, and sex. Results: Cumulative smoking showed the greatest positive contribution to EAA in total participants. Healthy diet and education years showed inverse contributions to EAA. We observed a non-linear pattern in the contribution of cumulative alcohol consumption to EAA. We observed positive associations between the collective lifestyle components and greater EAA. While cumulative smoking was the greatest contributor across sex and race subgroups, the relative contributions of other components varied by subgroups. Conclusion: Cumulative smoking, cumulative alcohol consumption, diet, and education showed the highest contributions in our study. Higher amounts of smoking and alcohol consumption were likely to contribute to greater EAA, whereas healthier diet and achieved education were likely to contribute to lesser EAA. Identifying pertinent lifestyle components in a context of collective lifestyle components can provide a direction for intervention strategies, and suggests which components should be the primary focus for promoting younger EAA.