Lifestyle Factors Research Articles

Associations between use of chemical hair products and epigenetic age: Findings from the Sister Study

Background: Hair products may be a source of harmful chemicals and have been linked to age-related health outcomes. We investigated whether the use of hair products is related to epigenetic age in a sample of Black (both Hispanic and non-Hispanic) and non-Hispanic White women. Methods: In a subset of 4358 participants aged 35–74 years from the Sister Study, we estimated cross-sectional associations between self-reported use of four chemical hair products (permanent dye, semipermanent dye, straighteners/relaxers, and hair permanents/body waves) in the year before enrollment (2003–2009) and three DNA methylation-based measures of epigenetic age (DunedinPACE, GrimAge age acceleration [GrimAgeAccel], and PhenoAge age acceleration [PhenoAgeAccel]) using survey-weighted multivariable linear regressions. Associations were estimated both overall and by self-identified race and ethnicity, adjusting for chronological age, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, body mass index, menopausal status, and DNA methylation platform. Results: Associations between the use of hair products and the three epigenetic age measures were largely null. Use of hair permanents/body waves was modestly associated with higher DunedinPACE among all participants (β ever-never = 0.010; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.001, 0.019) and with lower PhenoAgeAccel among Black women (β ever-never = −1.53; 95% CI = −2.84, −0.21). Conclusion: In this US-based study, we found little evidence of associations between chemical hair product use and epigenetic age in Black and non-Hispanic White women. Observed associations were modest and largely not supported by dose–response relationships or were inconsistent across epigenetic age measures. Previously observed associations between chemical hair product use and aging-related health outcomes may not be explained by the biological aging pathways captured by DunedinPACE, GrimAgeAccel, or PhenoAgeAccel. Alternative biological pathways are worth investigating in racially diverse samples.

Irish Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Incidence: Age, Period, and Cohort Effects Using a Partial Least Squares Regression Model.

To investigate the underlying reasons for variability in the incidence rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) within the Irish population between the years 1996 and 2021. The Irish ALS register was used to calculate the incidence and to subsequently extract age at diagnosis (age), year of diagnosis (period), and date of birth (cohort) for all incident patients within the study period (n = 2,771). An age-period-cohort (APC) model using partial least squares regression was constructed to examine each component separately and their respective contribution to the incidence while minimizing the well-known identifiability problem of APC effects. A dummy regression model consisting of 5 periods, 19 cohorts, and 16 age groups was used to examine nonlinear relationships within the data over time. The CIs for each of these were estimated using the jackknife method. The nonlinear model achieved R2 of 99.43% with 2-component extraction. Age variation was evident with those in the ages 65-79 years contributing significantly to the incidence (βmax = 0.0746, SE = 0.000410, CI 0.00665-0.00826). However, those aged 25-60 years contributed significantly less (βmin = -0.00393, SE = 0.000291, CI -0.00454 to -0.00340). Each successive period showed an increase in the regression model coefficient suggesting an increasing incidence over time, independent of the other factors examined-an increase of β from -0.00489 (SE = 0.000264, CI -0.00541 to -0.00437) to 0.00973 (SE = 0.000418, CI 0.0105-0.00891). A cohort effect was demonstrated showing that the contribution of those born between 1927 and 1951 contributed to a significantly greater degree than the other birth cohorts (βmax = 0.00577, SE = 0.000432, CI 0.00493-0.00662). Using the Irish population-based ALS Register, robust age, period, and cohort effects can be identified. The age effect may be accounted for by demographic shifts within the population. Changes in disease categorization, competing risks of death, and improved surveillance may account for period effects. The cohort effect may reflect lifestyle and environmental factors associated with the challenging economic circumstances in Ireland between 1927 and 1951. Age-period-cohort studies can help to account for changes in disease incidence and prevalence, providing additional insights into likely demographic and environmental factors that influence population-based disease risk.

Increased prevalence of recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma arising from buccal mucosa: A pervasive threat requiring multidimensional perspectives

Perspective goalSquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the buccal mucosa is at a higher risk of local recurrence. Surgery in this area is complex and frequently results in close or positive margins, which increases the risk of recurrence. A margin distance of less than 1 mm from the tumour is linked to a higher rate of recurrence. DiscussionAnatomic, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors contribute to its resurgence. Effective prevention strategies, early detection, and treatment require a multidimensional approach. Understanding genetic, environmental, and socio-cultural factors can help develop effective prevention strategies, improve early detection, and enhance treatment outcomes. ConclusionDespite advancements in medical technology and awareness campaigns, the aggressive nature of SCC and its adverse impact on patient's quality of life necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its factors. A comprehensive and multidimensional approach is crucial for combating this pervasive public health threat. By integrating this knowledge into prevention strategies, healthcare professionals can work towards reducing the burden of SCC and enhancing patients' quality of life.

A Review of the Concept of Garbhaja Bhava in Ayurveda

Abstract: The concept of Garbhaja Bhava in Ayurveda encompasses various physiological, psychological, and lifestyle factors that influence the health and well-being of both mother and fetus during pregnancy. Ayurveda emphasizes maintaining balance and harmony within the body to ensure optimal health and prevent disease, extending this principle to pregnancy through dietary recommendations, herbal remedies, and lifestyle adjustments. The concept of Garbhopaghatakara Bhava deals with conditions that could potentially harm the fetus and provides guidance on managing these risks. While not explicitly defined, the essence of Garbhaja Bhava lies in the comprehensive Ayurvedic approach to pregnancy, focusing on understanding and addressing the multifaceted needs of the pregnant woman to support the healthy development of the fetus.

How the fertility of males and females is affected by stress, lifestyle and pharmaceutical agents

Background: Infertility in men is the most discussed issue among couples. It is generally believed that about half of infertility in couples is due to the men side, mainly due to frustrations in the process of spermatogenesis. Currently it has been found that lifestyle modifications are vital to improve infertility and interest in this area has increased. Examples include maturation, mental stress, diet, active work, high temperature of scrotum, hot water, caffeine, and mobile phone use. This review will examine the effects of personal satisfaction (a modifiable lifestyle factor) and mental stress on infertility in male. It will also show the effects of high scrotal temperature and unhealthy views of exercise on infertility in male. Materials and Methods: Forty of the 118 (34%) men patients who underwent IVF agreed to participate in this review. Only patients having IVF for the first time were recalled for re-examination to reduce the adjustments to the sperms sample screening process that would occur in men with some experience of IVF. Of these, 31 completed the retest and eight decided not to proceed after the initial testing period; one patient's cycle was cancelled prior to ovulation. Conclusion: Our study found that IVF patients had significantly lower sperm quality when they collected their eggs, which suggests a link between sperm quality and psychological stress. Whether physical (frozen reserve sperm samples) or psychological (evacuation preparation, targeted morphology, treatment groups) interventions are effective in reducing stress in male IVF patients and controlling stress-related changes in sperm quality is still unknown. Further studies are awaited to light some further developments.

Serum neurofilament light chain as a prognostic marker of all-cause mortality in a national sample of US adults.

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a neuron-specific structural protein released into the extracellular space, including body fluids, upon neuroaxonal damage. Despite evidence of a link in neurological disorders, few studies have examined the association of serum NfL with mortality in population-based studies. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey were utilized including 2,071 Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adult participantsand adult participants of other ethnic groups (20-85 years) with serum NfL measurements who were followed for ≤ 6 years till 2019. We tested the association of serum NfL with mortality in the overall population and stratified by sex with the addition of potential interactive and mediating effects of cardio-metabolic risk factors and nutritional biomarkers. Elevated serum NfL levels (above median group) were associated with mortality risk compared to the below median NfL group in the overall sample (P = 0.010), with trends observed within each sex group (P < 0.10). When examining Loge NfL as a continuum, one standard deviation of Loge NfL was associated with an increased mortality risk (HR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.60-2.20, P < 0.001) in the reduced model adjusted for age, sex, race, and poverty income ratio; a finding only slightly attenuated with the adjustment of lifestyle and health-related factors. Four-way decomposition indicated that there was, among others, mediated interaction between NfL and HbA1c and a pure inconsistent mediation with 25(OH)D3 in predicting all-cause mortality, in models adjusted for all other covariates. Furthermore, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio interacted synergistically with NfL in relation to mortality risk both on the additive and multiplicative scales. These data indicate that elevated serum NfL levels were associated with all-cause mortality in a nationally representative sample of US adults.

Apolipoprotein ɛ4 is associated with increased risk of fall- and fracture-related hospitalisation: the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women.

Apolipoprotein ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4) may be a genetic risk factor for reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle function, which could have implications for fall and fracture risk. We examined the association between APOE ɛ4 status and long-term fall- and fracture-related hospitalisation risk in older women. 1276 community-dwelling women from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women (mean age ± SD = 75.2 ± 2.7 years) were included. At baseline, women underwent APOE genotyping and detailed phenotyping for covariates including prevalent falls and fractures, as well as health and lifestyle factors. The association between APOE ɛ4 with fall-, any fracture-, and hip fracture-related hospitalisations, obtained over 14.5 years from linked health records, were examined using multivariable-adjusted Cox-proportional hazard models. Over 14.5 years, 507 (39.7%) women experienced a fall-related hospitalisation, 360 (28.2%) women experienced a fracture-related hospitalisation, including 143 (11.2%) attributed to a hip fracture. In multivariable-adjusted models, compared to non-carriers, APOE ɛ4 carriers (n=297, 23.3%) had greater risk for a fall- (HR 1.48 95%CI 1.22-1.81), fracture- (HR 1.28, 95%CI 1.01-1.63) or hip fracture-related hospitalisation (HR 1.83 95%CI 1.29-2.61). The estimates remained similar when specific fall and fracture risk factors (fear of falling, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, grip strength, timed-up-and-go, hip BMD, vitamin K status, prevalent diabetes, HbA1c, cholesterol, abbreviated mental test score) were added to the multivariable model. In conclusion, APOE ɛ4 is a potential risk factor for fall- and fracture-related hospitalisation in community-dwelling older women. Screening for APOE ɛ4 could provide clinicians an opportunity to direct higher risk individuals to appropriate intervention strategies.

Inter-relationships of risk factors and pathways associated with all-cause mortality in patients with chronic schizophrenia

IntroductionOf all psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia is associated with the highest risk of all-cause mortality. This study aimed to investigate independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in patients with chronic schizophrenia. In addition, the possible causal inter-relationships among these independent risk factors and all-cause mortality were also explored.MethodsWe conducted an analysis of 1,126 patients with chronic schizophrenia from our psychiatric department from April 2003 to August 2022, and retrospectively reviewed their medical records. The study endpoint was all-cause mortality. Baseline clinical characteristics including sociodemographic data, biochemical data, lifestyle factors, comorbidities and antipsychotic treatment were examined with Cox proportional hazards analysis.ResultsThe all-cause mortality rate was 3.9% (44 patients). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that several factors were independently associated with all-cause mortality, including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, heart failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, ileus, underweight, fasting glucose, triglycerides, albumin, and hemoglobin. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that several factors had statistically significant direct effects on all-cause mortality. Heart failure, hypertension, underweight, age at onset, and ileus showed positive direct effects, while albumin and hemoglobin demonstrated negative direct effects. In addition, several factors had indirect effects on all-cause mortality. GERD indirectly affected all-cause mortality through ileus, and peptic ulcer disease had indirect effects through albumin and ileus. Ileus, underweight, DM, and hypertension also exhibited indirect effects through various pathways involving albumin, hemoglobin, and heart failure. Overall, the final model, which included these factors, explained 13% of the variability in all-cause mortality.DiscussionThese results collectively suggest that the presence of DM, hypertension, heart failure, GERD, peptic ulcer disease, ileus, and underweight, along with lower levels of albumin or hemoglobin, were independently associated with all-cause mortality. The SEM analysis further revealed potential causal pathways and inter-relationships among these risk factors contributing to all-cause mortality in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Psychotic-like experiences and associated factors in resident physicians: A Canadian cross-sectional study.

Medical residency training is associated with a range of sociodemographic, lifestyle and mental health factors that may confer higher risk for psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in residents, yet little research has examined this question. Thus, we aimed to document the prevalence and associated factors of PLEs among resident physicians. Physicians enrolled in residency programmes in the Province of Québec, Canada (four universities) were recruited in Fall 2022 via their programme coordinators and social media. They completed an online questionnaire assessing PLEs in the past 3 months (the 15-item Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences), as well as sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and mental health. Analyses included survey weights and gamma regressions. The sample included 502 residents (mean age, 27.6 years; 65.9% women). Only 1.3% (95% CI: 0.5%, 4.0%) of residents met the screening cut-off for psychotic disorder. Factors associated with higher scores for PLEs included racialised minority status (relative difference: +7.5%; 95% CI: +2.2%, +13.2%) and English versus French as preferred language (relative difference: +7.9% 95% CI: +3.1%, +12.9%), as well as each additional point on scales of depression (relative difference: +0.8%; 95% CI: +0.3%, +1.3%) and anxiety (relative difference: +1.3%; 95% CI: +0.8%, +1.7%). In secondary analyses, racialised minority status was associated with persecutory items, but not with other PLEs. Gender, residency programmes and lifestyle variables were not associated with PLEs. This study found low reports of PLEs in a sample of resident physicians. Associations of PLEs with minoritised status may reflect experiences of discrimination.

Describing the women of orthopaedic surgery.

The purpose of this survey study was to examine the demographic and lifestyle factors of women currently in orthopaedic surgery. An electronic survey was conducted of practising female orthopaedic surgeons based in the USA through both the Ruth Jackson Society and the online Facebook group "Women of Orthopaedics". The majority of surveyed female orthopaedic surgeons reported being married (76.4%; 285/373) and having children (67.6%; 252/373). In all, 66.5% (247/373) were collegiate athletes; 82.0% (306/373) reported having no female orthopaedic surgeon mentors in undergraduate and medical school. Their mean height is 65.8 inches and average weight is 147.3 lbs. The majority of female orthopaedic surgeons did not have female mentorship during their training. Additionally, biometrically, their build is similar to that of the average American woman.

A pilot study investigating the influence of dietary boron levels on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary boron on osteoporosis in postmenopausal Jordanian women. Sixty‐six women diagnosed with osteoporosis were recruited and data on personal information, dietary habits, medical history, and lifestyle were collected. Bone mineral density, serum calcium, and serum vitamin D measurements were obtained from patient records. This study showed a strong correlation between boron intake and bone mineral density in these women with osteoporosis and a negative correlation between boron intake and serum calcium (p &lt; .05). However, no significant correlation was found between boron intake and various parameters such as serum vitamin D, dietary habits, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), age of menopause, cases of hysterectomy or oophorectomy, location of fractures, education level, social status, smoking, and physical activity (p &gt; .05). A significant link was found between boron intake and bone mineral density highlighting the importance of nutritional and lifestyle factors affecting bone health. Further research on the specific impact of boron is warranted to better inform dietary interventions for osteoporosis prevention and management.

Influence of polyphenolic compounds on human health and the course of a number of diseases

The purpose of this literature review is to elucidate the biological effects of polyphenols and their importance for human health. Polyphenols play the role of food antioxidants and are of growing interest in various fields of scientific research and including nutritional research due to the presence of these compounds in plant foods. In this review, a brief classification of polyphenols is presented. Polyphenols include a diverse group of compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes and lignans. Flavonoids are found in fruits such as apples, apricots, grapes and citrus fruits; vegetables are rich in phenolic acids. Polyphenols are also rich in nuts, legumes, green tea, blueberries, cocoa. Polyphenols are of interest because of their effective direct and indirect antioxidant mechanisms for attenuating chronic diseases, as well as leveling negative lifestyle and nutritional factors. The antioxidant properties of polyphenolic compounds limit oxidative stress, which is relevant in geriatrics. Through a diet enriched with polyphenols, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing cancer, and diabetes. The favorable effect of polyphenols is noted on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Polyphenols protect the endothelium from damage, slow the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, exhibit antithrombotic action. Having antioxidant activity, polyphenols inhibit lipoperoxidation processes, having a therapeutic effect in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In particular, catechins are effective in Parkinson's disease and ferulic acid is effective in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The protective effects of polyphenols associated with their antioxidant activity make the use of these compounds in geriatrics attractive. Due not only to their antioxidant but also hypoglycemic properties, polyphenols may be an additional treatment for diabetes mellitus. The polyphenols theaflavins and thearubigins, found in black tea and possessing antioxidant properties, have anti-cancer effects. Polyphenols also protect the skin from sun damage. It can be concluded that patients with chronic diseases should be prescribed a diet rich in polyphenols.

Higher plant-derived nitrate intake is associated with lower odds of frailty in a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older women.

Dietary nitrate intake is inversely related to numerous contributors towards frailty, including cardiovascular disease and poor physical function. Whether these findings extend to frailty remain unknown. We investigated if habitual nitrate intake, derived from plants or animal-based foods, was cross-sectionally associated with frailty in women. Community-dwelling older Australian women (n = 1390, mean age 75.1 ± 2.7 years) completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Nitrate concentrations in food were obtained from international nitrate databases. We adopted the Rockwood frailty index (FI) of cumulative deficits comprising 33 variables across multiple health domains (scored 0 to 1), which predicts increased hospitalisation and mortality risk. A FI ≥ 0.25 indicated frailty. Cross-sectional associations between nitrate intake (total plant and animal nitrate, separately) and frailty were analysed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models (including lifestyle factors), as part of restricted cubic splines. A non-linear inverse relationship was observed between total plant nitrate intake and frailty. Compared to women with the lowest plant nitrate intake (Quartile [Q]1), women with greater intakes in Q2 (OR 0.69 95%CI 0.56-0.84), Q3 (OR 0.67 95%CI 0.50-0.90) and Q4 (OR 0.66 95%CI 0.45-0.98) had lower odds for frailty. A nadir in the inverse association was observed once intakes reached ~ 64mg/d (median Q2). No relationship was observed between total animal nitrate and frailty. Community-dwelling older women consuming low amounts of plant-derived nitrate were more likely to present with frailty. Consuming at least one daily serving (~ 75g) of nitrate-rich green leafy vegetables may be beneficial in preventing frailty.

Breaking down causes, consequences, and mediating effects of telomere length variation on human health

BackgroundTelomeres form repeated DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes, which shorten with each cell division. Yet, factors modulating telomere attrition and the health consequences thereof are not fully understood. To address this, we leveraged data from 326,363 unrelated UK Biobank participants of European ancestry.ResultsUsing linear regression and bidirectional univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR), we elucidate the relationships between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and 142 complex traits, including diseases, biomarkers, and lifestyle factors. We confirm that telomeres shorten with age and show a stronger decline in males than in females, with these factors contributing to the majority of the 5.4% of LTL variance explained by the phenome. MR reveals 23 traits modulating LTL. Smoking cessation and high educational attainment associate with longer LTL, while weekly alcohol intake, body mass index, urate levels, and female reproductive events, such as childbirth, associate with shorter LTL. We also identify 24 traits affected by LTL, with risk for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and some autoimmune diseases being increased by short LTL, while longer LTL increased risk for other autoimmune conditions and cancers. Through multivariable MR, we show that LTL may partially mediate the impact of educational attainment, body mass index, and female age at childbirth on proxied lifespan.ConclusionsOur study sheds light on the modulators, consequences, and the mediatory role of telomeres, portraying an intricate relationship between LTL, diseases, lifestyle, and socio-economic factors.

Higher oxidative balance score was associated with decreased risk of erectile dysfunction: a population-based study

BackgroundErectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition that is thought to be significantly impacted by oxidative stress. The oxidative balance score (OBS) has been built to characterize the state of antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance. There is less known regarding the relationship of OBS with ED.MethodsThis study conducted cross-sectional analyses on 1860 males who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2004. OBS was constructed by the 16 dietary components and 4 lifestyle factors. Self-reported ED was defined as men who indicated that they “never” or “sometimes” could achieve or keeping an erection adequate for satisfactory intercourse. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between OBS and the risk of ED.ResultsAmong 1860 participants, the median OBS was 20 (IQR 15–26), and OBS was lower in males with ED vs. those without ED (P = 0.001). The results of our analyses indicated a negative correlation between OBS and ED among male subjects. Specifically, each one-unit increase in the continuous OBS was relate to 3% reduction in the odds of ED after full adjustment. Moreover, when extreme OBS quartiles were compared, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the 4th OBS category was 0.53 (0.32 to 0.88) after full adjustment (P for trend < 0.05). There was also statistical significance in the relationships between dietary/lifestyle OBS with ED, and the association between lifestyle OBS and ED may be even tighter. For each unit increase in lifestyle OBS, the odds of ED decreased by 11% after full adjustment.ConclusionHigher OBS was associated with reduced risk of ED in U.S. males. These findings suggested that adopting an antioxidant-rich diet and engaging in antioxidant-promoting lifestyle behaviors may contribute to a lower incidence of ED. These results provided recommendations for a comprehensive dietary and lifestyle antioxidants for ED patients.

Poor healthy lifestyle and life's essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine: a prospective cohort study.

Lifestyle are closely related to migraine. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the association between Healthy lifestyle or Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of migraine. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between Healthy lifestyle scores and Life's essential 8 scores, and migraine. 332,895 UK Biobank participants without migraine were included. Healthy lifestyle were assessed using seven lifestyle factors, and categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. LE8, based on the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health (CVH), consist of eight indicators classified as low, moderate, or high CVH. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to examine the association between Healthy lifestyle scores, LE8 scores, and migraine, with calculations for population-attributable fraction (PAF) and cumulative incidence. During a median follow-up of 13.58 years, participants in intermediate (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.99) or ideal category of Healthy lifestyle (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.91) significantly reduced migraine risk compared to the poor category. Similarly, high CVH (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.92) also lowered migraine risk, while moderate CVH (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.02) did not show a difference compared to low CVH. If all individuals adhered to higher categories of Healthy lifestyle and LE8, approximately 11.38% and 22.05% of migraine cases could be prevented. Among individual lifestyle factors, maintaining an ideal body mass index (BMI), physical activity, sleep duration, sleep pattern, and sedentary time were associated with substantial reductions in migraine risk, by 5.65%, 0.81%, 10.16%, 16.39%, and 6.57%, respectively. Our study provides evidence that poor Healthy lifestyle and Life's Essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine.

P36 Environmental triggers of psoriasis and relationship to disease severity: insights from the mySkin study

Abstract Introduction and aims Psoriasis is a common debilitating inflammatory skin condition with an established genetic basis. Despite a wealth of genetic research on psoriasis susceptibility, epidemiological studies characterizing environmental triggers of disease onset are limited. Our aim is to identify self-reported triggers of psoriasis onset, and investigate the relationship between triggers and subsequent disease severity. Methods Self-reported data from people with a clinician-confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis were collected through the online mySkin survey. mySkin was launched UK-wide in June 2023 and all surveys completed by 6 December 2023 were analysed. Measures of disease severity at the time of survey completion included Patient Global Assessment and Dermatology Life Quality Index. The association between triggers of psoriasis onset and disease severity was analysed using one-way Anova tests. Results Of 529 participants, 93.4% were of White ethnicity, 64.8% were female and their average age was 51.1 years. Overall, 49.9% reported a family history of psoriasis and 55% (n = 289) of participants reported at least 1 trigger of psoriasis onset. Of those who reported a trigger, the most commonly reported trigger was stress (n = 167, 57.8%), followed by infection (n = 85, 29.4%) and low mood (n = 23, 7.9%). For participants who selected multiple triggers, there was considerable coselection of stress, low mood, climate (pollution, weather) and lifestyle (weight gain, alcohol, smoking) factors. A greater proportion of participants with a family history of psoriasis reported climate and hormonal (pregnancy, childbirth, menopause) triggers of psoriasis onset, compared with those without a family history (73% vs. 26% and 69% vs. 31%, respectively). There was no significant association between triggers of psoriasis onset and disease severity (P = 0.76). Conclusions These self-reported data highlight the importance of stress in psoriasis onset. The co-occurrence of different triggers, including in those with vs. without a family history of psoriasis, underscores the complex aetiology of psoriasis. Further characterization of gene–environment interactions is warranted.

P01 Remodelling of the dermoepidermal junction occurs in intrinsically aged Far East Asian skin without significant epidermal atrophy

Abstract Introduction and aims Ageing is characterized by a gradual decline in physiological function and is influenced by both intrinsic genetic and extrinsic lifestyle and environmental factors. However, much of our knowledge of cutaneous ageing comes from the study of White populations. We have previously shown that the organization of young healthy skin is ethnicity-dependent and that altered epidermal morphology in White volunteers correlates with loss of biomechanical function in the skin. In this study, we used epidermal morphometry to determine whether parameters associated with intrinsic skin ageing in White skin are also observed in Far East Asian skin. Methods Archival skin samples were obtained from the Asian Skin Biobank [young (3–21 years), N = 38, 37 male samples (Chinese, n = 16; Malay, n = 16; other Far East, n = 6); aged (61–86 years), N = 7, one male sample (Chinese, n = 6; Malay, n = 1)] and stained with haematoxylin and eosin prior to image analysis for dermoepidermal junction (DEJ) convolution and measurement of epidermal thickness. Weigert’s resorcin-fuchsin stain was used to ensure samples were photoprotected. Results Weigert’s resorcin-fuchsin stain revealed that all samples were photoprotected, with no evidence of solar elastosis. We next compared whether geographic ancestry of our local Far East Asian population impacted epidermal morphology in young skin; neither DEJ convolution nor epidermal thickness were impacted by geographic ancestry. However, a significant flattening of the DEJ was observed between young and aged samples (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Interestingly, no significant difference in epidermal thickness was observed as a function of age. Conclusions While intrinsically aged Asian skin undergoes the same flattening of the DEJ that is seen in White populations, epidermal thickness does not significantly alter; this is in stark contrast to intrinsically aged White skin, where epidermal atrophy is observed. Hence, the trajectory of intrinsic cutaneous ageing may be ethnicity-dependent, providing further evidence that studies of skin from different ethnicities are necessary.

Cigarette smoking and prostate cancer aggressiveness among African and European American men.

Smoking is a modifiable lifestyle factor that has not been established as a prostate cancer risk factor, nor emphasized in prostate cancer prevention. Studies have shown that African American (AA) smokers have a poorer cancer prognosis than European Americans (EAs), while having a lower prevalence of heavy smoking. We examined the relationship between cigarette smoking and prostate cancer aggressiveness and assessed racial differences in smoking habits on the probability of high-aggressive prostate cancer. Using data from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (n = 1,279), prostate cancer aggressiveness was defined as high or low based on Gleason scores, serum prostate-specific antigen levels, and tumor stage. Cigarette smoking was categorized as current, former, or never smokers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Self-reported current (OR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.30-3.06) smoking was associated with high-aggressive prostate cancer relative to never smokers. When stratified by self-reported race, the odds of having high-aggressive cancer increased among AA current (OR = 3.58; 95% CI 2.04-6.28) and former smokers (OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.38-3.53) compared to AA never smokers, but the odds were diminished among the EA stratum (Pself-reported race x smoking status = 0.003). Cigarette smoking is associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness, a relationship modulated by self-reported race. Future research is needed to investigate types of cigarettes smoked and metabolic differences that may be contributing to the racial disparities observed.

Brain structure and connectivity mediate the association of lifestyle and cognition: the Maastricht study

Abstract Life-course exposure to risk and protective factors impacts brain macro- and micro-structure, which in turn affects cognition. The concept of Brain Age Gap (BAG) assesses brain health by comparing an individual’s neuroimaging-based predicted age with their calendar age. Higher BAG implies accelerated brain aging and is expected to be associated with worse cognition. In this study, we comprehensively modelled mutual associations between brain-health and lifestyle factors, brain age, and cognition in a large, middle-aged population. For this study, cognitive test scores, lifestyle, and 3T MRI data for n=4881 participants (mean age (±SD) = 59.2 (±8.6), 50.1% male) were available from The Maastricht Study, a population-based cohort study with extensive phenotyping. Whole brain volumes (grey matter (GM), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), white matter hyperintensity (WMH)), cerebral microbleeds (CMB), and structural white matter connectivity were calculated. Lifestyle factors were combined into an adapted LIfestyle for BRAin health (LIBRA) weighted sum score, with higher score indicating greater dementia risk. Cognition was calculated by averaging z-scores across three cognitive domains (memory, information processing speed, executive function and attention). BAG was calculated by comparing calendar age to predictions from a neuroimaging-based multivariable regression model. Paths between LIBRA tertiles, BAG and cognitive function were tested using linear regression and structural equation modelling, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical confounders. Results show that CSF, GM, WMH and CMB best predicted BAG (R2 = 0.455, RMSE = 6.44). In regression analysis, higher LIBRA scores (greater dementia risk) were associated with higher BAG (standardized regression coefficient ß = 0.126, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and worse cognition (ß = -0.046, p = 0.013), while higher BAG was associated with worse cognition (ß=-0.163, p&amp;lt;0.001). In mediation analysis, 24.7% of the total difference in cognition between the highest and lowest LIBRA tertile was mediated by BAG (ßindirect = -0.049, p &amp;lt; 0.001; ßtotal = -0.198, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and an additional 3.8% was mediated via connectivity (ßindirect = -0.006, p &amp;lt; 0.001; ßtotal = -0.150, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Findings suggest that associations between health- and lifestyle-based risk/protective factors (LIBRA) and cognition can be partially explained by structural brain health markers (BAG) and white matter connectivity markers. Lifestyle interventions targeted at high-risk individuals in mid to late life may be effective in promoting and preserving cognitive function in the general public.