Extremely Low Birth Weight and Accelerated Biological Aging

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (,1000 g) survivors are exposed to elevated levels of physiologic stress during their lives and may be susceptible to accelerated aging. Using the oldest known longitudinally followed cohort of ELBW survivors, we compared biological aging in this group using an epigenetic clock to a sample of matched normal birth weight (NBW) (.2500 g) control participants.METHODS: Buccal cells were collected from 45 ELBW survivors and 49 NBW control participants at 30 to 35 years of age. Epigenetic age was calculated from the weighted average of DNA methylation at 353 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sequence within DNA sites, by using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation EPIC 850k BeadChip array.RESULTS: Before and after statistically adjusting for neurosensory impairment and the presence of chronic health conditions, a significant sex by birth weight group interaction was observed in the 353-site epigenetic-clock assay (P = .03), whereby ELBW men had a significantly older epigenetic age than NBW men (4.6 years; P = .01). Women born at ELBW were not found to be epigenetically older than their NBW peers. CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study suggest that prenatal exposures may play an important role in aging, and that men born preterm may experience accelerated aging relative to their peers. We further highlight the need to monitor and promote the health of preterm survivors, with a particular focus on healthy aging across the life span.WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) survivors are at a greater risk for common diseases of aging, and it is hypothesized that the severe early life adversity they encountered may confer a premature-aging phenotype.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: A significant birth weight by sex interaction revealed that ELBW men had a greater average epigenetic age compared with those in the matched normal birth weight control group. ELBW men may have accelerated biological aging, putting them at risk for chronic illness in later adulthood.

Epigenetic Aging in Early Life: Role of Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition

“…In contrast, Phang et al found that neither birth weight nor body fatness is associated with epigenetic age acceleration in newborns [ 28 ••]. In a small study, 30–35-year-old males who had been born with extremely low birth weight had accelerated epigenetic aging compared to their peers born with normal birth weight [ 37 ]. Taken together, these associations suggest links between maternal–fetal wellbeing and offspring epigenetic aging, although the finer detail of these links requires further description.…”

Features of Retinal Neurogenesis as a Key Factor of Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Myth or Reality?

“…Such risk factors include high, low, or extremely low birth weight [ 40 , 41 , 42 ] and the formation of aberrant neural circuits under the influence of genetic and/or environmental factors. Given the increased rates and early emergence of chronic illnesses observed in the individuals born with extremely low birth weight, the latter may confer a premature aging phenotype characterized by accelerated cellular senescence and the development of diseases typically associated with old age [ 133 ]. The mechanisms and potential substrates of these lasting effects are yet to be elucidated.…”

Features of Retinal Neurogenesis as a Key Factor of Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Myth or Reality?

“…Such risk factors include high, low or extremely low birth weight [40][41][42], and the formation of aberrant neural circuits under the influence of genetic and/or environmental factors. Given the increased rates and early emergence of chronic illnesses observed in the individuals born with extremely low birth weight, the latter may confer a premature-aging phenotype characterized by accelerated cellular senescence and the development of diseases typically associated old age [136] . The mechanisms and potential substrates of these lasting effects are yet to be elucidated.…”