More miles on the clock: Neighbourhood stressors are associated with telomere length in a longitudinal study

Abstract

Background There is a substantial gap in health and longevity between more affluent and more deprived areas, and more knowledge of the determinants of this health divide is required. Experience of the local residential environment is important for health although few studies have examined this in relation to biological markers of age such as telomere length. We sought to examine if residents’ perceptions of neighbourhood stressors over time were associated with telomere length in a community study. Methodology/Principal findings In a prospective cohort study of 2186 adults in the West of Scotland, we measured neighbourhood stressors at three time points over a 12-year period and telomere length at the end of the study. Using linear regression models, we found that a higher accumulation of neighbourhood stressors over time was associated with shorter telomere length, even after taking cohort, social class, health behaviours (smoking status, diet, physical activity), BMI and depression into account among females only (Beta = 0.007; 95%CI [0.001, 0.012]; P<0.014). Conclusions/Significance Neighborhood environments are potentially modifiable, and future efforts directed towards improving deleterious local environments may be useful to lessen telomere attrition.

The role of the microbiota in sedentary lifestyle disorders and ageing: lessons from the animal kingdom

“…Features of ageing have been hallmarked to exemplify commonality across taxa , and accelerated biological ageing (i.e.‘miles on the clock’) is a feature of age‐related morbidities that comprise a ‘diseasome of ageing’ . In particular, dysregulated nutrient sensing is a hallmark of ageing, where epigenetic regulation of nutrient sensing pathways and nutritional differences tied to socio‐economic factors, shows differential effects of the exposome on features of human ageing, such as age‐related genomic hypomethylation and inflammatory status . This diseasome shares common features, including persistent low‐grade inflammation, hyperphosphataemia, depressed Nrf2 activity, depleted metabolic capability, depressed mitochondrial biogenesis and alterations in the gut microbiome .…”

“…The exposome will undoubtedly have species‐specific effects engendered on different species living in the same physical environment. The level of psychosocial stress within that environment has a direct impact on both ageing and adiposity in man and would thus be expected to have a similar impact on any model organism and to be reflected in differential epigenomic effects (e.g. methylation patterns).…”

The hallmarks of childhood abuse and neglect: A systematic review

“…A fuller understanding of the interplay between these wide-ranging factors will be necessary if we are to find ways to prevent CM and enhance resilience in those already exposed. Resilience is thought to result from complex and dynamic processes of adaptation to stressors that involve the activation of a variety of protective factors [ 7 ] operating at every level of the bio-ecological spectrum [ 4 , 9 – 11 ]: from genetics [ 4 ], through the HPA axis [ 9 ] and immune system [ 10 ], the brain [ 12 ], and into the family [ 13 ] and wider community [ 14 ], with the potential for reciprocal influences at all levels [ 7 , 15 ].…”

Untitled

“…Methodologies adapted for complex systems are therefore crucial if we are to advance in this field. For more information on this see Ioannidis and colleagues [11]. Questions such as "how do physical factors affect mental health factors?"…”

“…A fuller understanding of the interplay between these wide-ranging factors will be necessary if we are to find ways to prevent CM and enhance resilience in those already exposed. Resilience is thought to result from complex and dynamic processes of adaptation to stressors that involve the activation of a variety of protective factors [7] operating at every level of the bioecological spectrum [4,[9][10][11]: from genetics [4], through the HPA axis [9] and immune system [10], the brain [12], and into the family [13] and wider community [14], with the potential for reciprocal influences at all levels [7,15].…”