Abstract
Recent evidence indicates consistent association of low socioeconomic status with epigenetic age acceleration, measured from DNA methylation. As work characteristics and job stressors are crucial components of socioeconomic status, we investigated their association with various measures of epigenetic age acceleration.The study population included employed and unemployed men and women (n=604) from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. We investigated the association of job strain, effort-reward imbalance and work characteristics with five biomarkers of epigenetic aging (Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPoAm).Our results indicate few significant associations between work stress indicators and epigenetic age acceleration, limited to a range of ±2 years, and smoking recording the highest effect on GrimAge age acceleration biomarker between current and no smokers (median difference 4.73 years (IQR 1.18, 8.41). PhenoAgeAA was associated with job strain active work (β=-1.301 95%CI -2.391, -0.212), slowing aging of less than 1.5 years, and working as white-collar slowed aging six months (GrimAgeAA β=-0.683, 95%CI -1.264, -0.102) when compared to blue collars. Association was found for working for more than 40 hours per week that increased the aging over 1.5 years, (HorvathAA β =2.058 95%CI 0.517,3.599, HannumAA β=1.567, 95%CI 0.415,2.719).The pattern of associations was different between women and men and some of the estimated effects are inconsistent with current literature. Our results provide the first evidence of association of work conditions with epigenetic aging biomarkers. However, further epidemiological research is needed to fully understand how work-related stress affects epigenetic age acceleration in men and women in different societies.
Highlights
DNA methylation-based biomarkers of biological age [1] - epigenetic clocks - have become very popular and have been found to be associated with several risk factors for non-communicable diseases and longevity [2]
To contribute elucidating potential mechanisms through which life-stressing conditions and job stress may impact health, we investigated the relation of epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) with psychosocial and other work characteristics
In relation to epigenetic clocks, we examined the distribution of work-related stress and well-being indicators in the Northern Finland Birth cohort 1966 (NFBC 1966), adjusting for known risk factors for accelerated ageing
Summary
DNA methylation-based biomarkers of biological age [1] - epigenetic clocks - have become very popular and have been found to be associated with several risk factors for non-communicable diseases and longevity [2]. Positive values of EAA indicate that an individual is experiencing accelerated aging. Previous studies [9–13] has suggested that low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with EAA, using different proxies such as education, parental occupation, income, and combined measures like the relative index of inequality. It emerges that the detrimental effect of low SES positions starting early in life are detectable through epigenetic clocks [14]. EAA has been suggested as an intermediate biological mechanism linking environmental exposures (including stress) with poor health outcomes and mortality later in life
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
