Epigenetic Aging and Accelerated Aging Patterns of Very Preterm Birth / Very-Low Birth Weight and Full-Term Birth Individuals at 38 years: the Bavarian Longitudinal Study

This study compares epigenetic age and epigenetic age acceleration measures between individuals born very preterm (VPT; < 32 weeks gestation) or with very low birth weight (VLBW; < 1500g weight at birth) and full-term controls (FT) at the chronological age of about 38 years. They are part of the Bavarian Longitudinal Study, a geographically representative, population-based dataset of VPT/VLBW infants in South Bavaria, Germany. The aim of this study is to investigate between-group differences in epigenetic aging (measured using DNAm Grimage2) and epigenetic age acceleration (measured using AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE). Additionally, the study seeks to identify prospectively assessed specific risk factors for individuals who are epigenetically older than others; and alternatively, promotive or protective factors for those who are younger than predicted. The dataset has already been collected, but the research questions and the analysis strategy are new to this project. The data relevant to these questions have yet to be processed.