Stressful life events, social support, and epigenetic aging in the Women's Health Initiative.
Harlyn G SkinnerHelena Palma-GudielJames D StewartShelly-Ann LoveParveen BhattiAladdin H ShadyabRobert B WallaceElena Salmoirago-BlotcherJoAnn E MansonCandyce H KroenkeDaniel W BelskyYun LiEric A WhitselAnthony S ZannasPublished in: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2023)
Our findings suggest that elevated stress burden is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in postmenopausal women. Lower social support and/or self-reported race/ethnicity may modify the association of stress with epigenetic age acceleration. These findings advance understanding of how stress may contribute to aging-related outcomes and have important implications for disease prevention and treatment in aging women.