Childhood Trauma Is Linked to Epigenetic Age Deceleration in Young Adults with Previous Youth Residential Care Placements

Abstract

Background. Early adversity increases the risk for mental and physical disorders as well as mortality. Epigenetic processes, and altered epigenetic aging in particular, might mediate these effects. While there is a growing literature examining links between early adversity and accelerated biological aging, results have been heterogeneous. Objective. Here, we explored the link between early adversity and epigenetic aging in a sample of formerly out-of-home placed young adults.Method. A total of N=117 participants (32% women, age mean=26.3 years, SD=3.6 years) from a longitudinal study on care leavers completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Life Events Checklist (LEC-R) and provided blood samples for the analysis of DNA methylation using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip Microarray. We calculated Hovarth’s and Hannum’s epigenetic clock and epigenetic age acceleration estimates. The statistical analysis plan was preregistered on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/b9ev8). Results. We found a positive association between chronological age and Horvath’s and Hannum’s epigenetic age. On average, Horvarth’s age was higher, and Hannum’s age was lower than participant’s chronological age. Childhood trauma (CTQ) was associated with younger epigenetic age across all operationalizations of epigenetic aging. This association seemed to be driven neglect and was mediated by self-reported externalizing problems in adulthood (measured using a subscale of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment [ASEBA]). In contrast, lifetime trauma exposure (LEC-R) was not a significant predictor of epigenetic age acceleration. Conclusion. Overall, our findings suggest that the association of trauma and younger epigenetic aging seems to be driven by neglect experiences in childhood. More studies focusing on at-risk populations with high stress burden are needed to better understand stress-related adaptations.