Not everyone ages gracefully. Thats true for people who dont take care of themselves as adults, but its also true for someone whose health was jeopardized at a young age from contact with something harmful, like air pollution or poor diet. In particular, smoking exposure during early development has been linked with numerous adverse health conditions, and now a new study shows that it, as well as other harmful pollutants, can cause advanced biological aging.
Early life, beginning in the womb through childhood, is a crucial phase in human development where susceptibility to environmental exposures is higher. Changes brought about during this time period can have a lasting effect on a persons metabolism and physiology, thus leading to either good health or diseases later on in life.
Knowing which and why certain exposures are beneficial or detrimental to early development provides evidence for avoidance or increased contact with them. Because aging is a continuous process that occurs at a cellular level throughout life, it can be measured to estimate health risks. One innovative way to measure biological age is through the use of what is known as an epigenetic clock, which measures DNA methylation in specific regions of the genome.
In an analysis led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), researchers investigated the association of over 100 various environmental exposures and the epigenetic clock of 1,000 or more children. What they found was that tobacco smoke, above all, positively correlated with advanced aging.
The epigenetic clock allows us to assess whether someones biological age is older or younger than his or her chronological age, explains author and ISGlobal researcher, Mariona Bustamante.
Biological, or epigenetic, age acceleration has been linked to several age-related conditions like cancer, cellular senescence, mortality, and more. Although DNA methylation is used to calculate epigenetic age, it is just one mechanism by which epigenetics affects gene expression. Histone modifications, chromatin state, and non-coding RNAs can also impact how genes are expressed.
In the past, most epigenetic aging studies have been performed on adults to evaluate environmental exposure, and usually for just one type of exposure. This study was the first to assess a link between early-life exposome of some 83 prenatal and 103 in early childhood exposure with epigenetic age. The results can be found online in the Environment International journal.
While tobacco use stood out as a top factor impacting aging, it was determined that maternal smoking during pregnancy accelerated epigenetic aging during the first years of childhood, as did parental smoking and indoor levels of black carbon (air pollution from partial fuel combustion).
The study also indicated two exposures that proved to have a protective effect against aging. They included the organic pesticide dimethyl dithiophosphate (DMDTP) and a persistent organic pollutant called polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-138.
Further research is needed to explain these results, but the former could be due to a higher intake of fruits and vegetables, said first author Paula de Prado-Bert, while the latter could be explained by its correlation with body mass index.
The results regarding smoking are in-line with other studies done on adults. The researchers believe the epigenetic modifications involved here most likely affect similar pathways for immune response, cell cycle, and detoxification, and therefore ultimately impact health from early life onward.
Although the study did have its limitations, like covering all variables of the exposome, it is a start to hopefully more studies that will provide convincing evidence to the dangers of certain toxins on childhood, especially smoking. Aging is a public health issue that everyone should be concerned about. So future research is needed to help drive government policy toward reducing environmental exposures and promote a healthy aging from the very start of life.
Source:Paula de Prado-Bert, et al. (2021).The early-life exposome and epigenetic age acceleration in children. Environment International.
Reference:Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in Early Life is Associated with Accelerated Biological Ageing. Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). August 26, 2021.
See original here:
Epigenetic Study Links Smoke Exposure in Early Life to Advanced Aging - WhatIsEpigenetics.com
- The Role of Epigenetics and Contributing Impact of Stress, Multigenerational, and Developmental Factors in Opiate ... - Cureus - February 8th, 2024
- About Epigenetics | Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine - November 16th, 2023
- What is Epigenetics? - Bruce H. Lipton, PhD - January 4th, 2023
- Why Epigenetics Contradicts Evolutionary Theory | Evolution News - December 18th, 2022
- Epigenetics in Psychology | Noba - November 24th, 2022
- Epigenetics: Definition, Mechanisms and Clinical Perspective - November 24th, 2022
- Researchers Find that Moms Pass On Additional Epigenetic Information To Their Children - WhatIsEpigenetics.com - October 13th, 2022
- Prestigious award advances OHSU research on impact of drug use over generations - OHSU News - October 13th, 2022
- Hoylake doctor launches test that detects diseases before they appear - Wirral Globe - October 13th, 2022
- Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. Announces Signing of Patent Assignment Related to Collaboration With VolitionRx Limited and CLS Therapeutics - Yahoo Finance - October 13th, 2022
- Understanding the Epigenetics of Childhood Trauma - Psych Central - October 4th, 2022
- Epigenetic therapy promotes spinal cord regeneration in mice following injury - RegMedNet - October 4th, 2022
- ORYZON to Give Updates on Corporate Progress in October - Yahoo Finance - October 4th, 2022
- InvestmentPitch Media Video Discusses Resverlogix and its Focus on Apabetalone's Future Development for the Prevention and Treatment of Post COVID-19... - October 4th, 2022
- Cardio Diagnostics To Sponsor, Participate in the American Heart Association's 2022 Metro Chicago Heart Walk - Yahoo Finance - September 16th, 2022
- Book review: Daughters and the stories they carry - Yahoo News - September 16th, 2022
- Inherent Biosciences raises funding to expand fertility care though epigenetics - VatorNews - September 8th, 2022
- 10 wellness retreat trends to know about - Cond Nast Traveller - September 8th, 2022
- Spotlight: Women in Science: Dr. Judith Kassis on Pursuing the Unexpected - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - September 8th, 2022
- Epigenetic Information Passed On to Offspring More Frequently Than Once Thought - Technology Networks - August 22nd, 2022
- New discovery shows you may inherit more from your mom than you think - EastMojo - August 22nd, 2022
- New Technology to Understand Cell Types and How Diseases Develop - Yale University - August 22nd, 2022
- Research Roundup: Fat Cell Hormone Slows Liver Tumor Growth and More Research News - BioSpace - August 22nd, 2022
- De-extinction? Plans to revive Tasmanian tiger triggers... - The American Bazaar - August 22nd, 2022
- Epigenetics in Health and Disease - PubMed - August 14th, 2022
- Clinical Epigenetics | Home page - August 14th, 2022
- Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy on Breast Cancer is Independent of Race - Pharmacy Times - August 14th, 2022
- Your True Age Might Not Be Your Birthdate And Thats Good News - Goalcast - August 14th, 2022
- Epigenetics Market is Predicted to Hit $6460.5 Million Value by 2030, says P&S Intelligence - PR Newswire UK - July 27th, 2022
- ORYZON Collaborates with the CMT Research Foundation in the US - Yahoo Finance - July 27th, 2022
- What is schizophrenia? Common myths and misconceptions around the mental illness - The Mirror - July 27th, 2022
- What gene changes and blood could tell us about the opioid crisis - UCI News - July 19th, 2022
- Epigenetics Is The Key To Treating Complex Diseases; Dr. Nirmalya Saha Is Using It To Unlock Cancer Treatment And More - EconoTimes - July 19th, 2022
- Heatstroke stresses the body years after the original heat illness - University of Florida - July 19th, 2022
- Omega Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance of IND Application for OTX-2002, First Omega Epigenomic Controller, for MYC Driven Hepatocellular Carcinoma... - July 19th, 2022
- Genetics proposes, epigenetics disposes: how our approach to human health changes in the 21st century and how CRISPR-Cas is involved - Digital Journal - June 22nd, 2022
- Zenith Epigenetics Triple Negative Breast Cancer Clinical Data Highlighted in an Oral Discussion at the American Society of Clinical Oncology... - June 22nd, 2022
- The relationship between P16INK4A and TP53 promoter methylation and the risk and prognosis in patients with oesophageal cancer in Thailand |... - June 22nd, 2022
- Omega Therapeutics (OMGA) Research Analysts' Weekly Ratings Changes - Defense World - June 13th, 2022
- Introducing Cantata Bio, Inventive Multimodal Solutions for Accelerating Genome-based R&D - Business Wire - June 13th, 2022
- Plant biologist nominated for prestigious early career award - University of Georgia - June 13th, 2022
- Julee Cruise's Career: How and where to watch Twin Peaks and all her TV appearances - Bolavip US - June 13th, 2022
- Hitting the Pro Race Track: Onovi Health Adds Marko Radiic, Professional Race Car Driver & Entrepreneur, as a Brand Ambassador - PR Newswire - June 13th, 2022
- Epigenetics: Definition & Examples | Live Science - June 4th, 2022
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Addiction DrugFacts | National Institute on ... - June 4th, 2022
- Epigenetics Market is Growing Rapidly with Recent Demand, Trends, Development, Revenue and Forecast to 2029 The Greater Binghamton Business Journal -... - June 4th, 2022
- Epigenetics at the Intersection of COVID-19 Risk and Environmental Chemical Exposures - DocWire News - June 4th, 2022
- Global Epigenetics Instrument Market 2022 Covid 19 Impact on Top countries data |Illumina, Thermo Fisher, Diagenode The Greater Binghamton Business... - June 4th, 2022
- Global Biomarkers Market Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027: Increase In Number of Pipeline Biomarkers & Rising Adoption of Biomarkers In Disease... - June 4th, 2022
- Many African Americans face unresolved trauma of racism and enslavement; It's affecting their health - ideastream - June 4th, 2022
- Zenith Epigenetics Announces Initiation of a Phase 2b Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Clinical Trial - BioSpace - May 15th, 2022
- Gene edited rats cured of anxiety and alcoholism | SYFY WIRE - Syfy - May 15th, 2022
- Dreams on Fire sheds light on epigenetics, collective trauma of genocide traveling through generations - Armenian Weekly - May 2nd, 2022
- NEAR science: good for what ails stressed communities - NUjournal - May 2nd, 2022
- Digital biomarkers - An Emerging tool in precision Medicines. The Biomarkers Market to Reach $86 Billion by 2027 - Arizton - Yahoo Finance - May 2nd, 2022
- Sprint Bioscience's NIMA program is focused on the target protein NNMT and will be launched at the BIO International convention - Marketscreener.com - May 2nd, 2022
- Post-Doctoral Associate in the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology job with NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI | 291713 - Times Higher Education - May 2nd, 2022
- Womb with a View: On the Science of Maternal Effects - lareviewofbooks - April 19th, 2022
- Molecular Biology Enzymes, Kits & Reagents Market likely to bring in approximately US$ 22000 Million revenues by 2026-end Political Beef -... - April 19th, 2022
- Type 2 diabetes on the rise among Wisconsin children - Iron Mountain Daily News - April 19th, 2022
- January 2022: Exposures, diverse populations, and epigenetics merge in grantee's lab - Environmental Factor Newsletter - January 5th, 2022
- Research Roundup: Why mRNA Vaccines are So Good Against Severe COVID-19 and More - BioSpace - January 5th, 2022
- Epigenetics - Genome.gov - December 24th, 2021
- Genetics, Epigenetics, and Cancer: What Data Are We Missing? - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - December 24th, 2021
- Can epigenetics help solve the puzzle between concomitant cardiovascular injury and severity of COVID-19? - DocWire News - December 24th, 2021
- Genomics Market Revenue to Cross US$ 49996.15 by 2027: The Insight Partners - Digital Journal - December 24th, 2021
- Hydra regrow their heads and live forever due to epigenetics - Cosmos Magazine - December 10th, 2021
- Epigenetics Market to Garner US$ 2611.57 MN, Globally, by 2025 at 13.6% CAGR: The Insight Partners - Digital Journal - December 10th, 2021
- Research Associate or Research Assistant in Medical and Molecular Genetics job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 274309 - Times Higher Education (THE) - December 10th, 2021
- Newpath Commits $350 Million to Fund the Next Good Things in the Life Sciences - BioSpace - December 10th, 2021
- Wind Turbine Market Development Overview And Analysis Till 2030- Market.Biz - Digital Journal - December 10th, 2021
- Cancer Testing Product Market to Witness Growth Acceleration | Epigenetics Ag, Techlab, Positive Bioscience Energy Siren - Energy Siren - November 22nd, 2021
- How can students make the best of their anxiety? - The Medium - November 22nd, 2021
- Salarius Pharmaceuticals (SLRX) is Developing a Novel LSD1 Inhibitor, Positioning it as a Significant Mover in Epigenetics-Based Cancer Therapies -... - October 28th, 2021
- Epigenetics-Based Kits Market To Witness High Growth In Near Future IMIESA - IMIESA - October 28th, 2021
- Epigenetics Diagnostic Market to Witness Growth Acceleration | Qiagen, Abcam plc, Novartis AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific IMIESA - IMIESA - October 28th, 2021
- LXRepair, Gustave Roussy Ink Research Partnership in Personalized Radiotherapy - Precision Oncology News - October 28th, 2021
- Van Andel Institute, Maine Medical Center Research Institute scientists earn $9.6 million Transformative Research Award from National Institutes of... - October 5th, 2021
- Epigenetics could reveal if you had a 'vanishing twin' - Popular Science - October 5th, 2021
- Epigenetics: Conducting The Symphony Of Genetics - Forbes - August 5th, 2021