Neighborhood disadvantage and accelerated epigenetic aging in the early aftermath of trauma: The moderating role of individual psychological resources

Socioenvironmental factors may be associated with patterns of biological age and modify individual vulnerability to trauma- and stress-related psychiatric conditions. We examined whether neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in the early aftermath of trauma. Next, we tested whether individual psychological resources, previously shown to attenuate stress-related accelerated aging, moderated the association between neighborhood disadvantage and epigenetic aging. Participants provided blood samples approximately 2 weeks post-trauma (N = 203; 64% female) and completed sociodemographic and psychometric assessments, including a measure of individual psychological resources (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale [CD-RISC]). Epigenetic aging was assessed using the Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE clocks. Neighborhood disadvantage (national area deprivation index [ADI]) was derived from participants' home addresses. Linear models evaluated the relationship between ADI and epigenetic aging as well as a subsequent CD-RISC x ADI interaction after covarying for chronological age, income, sex, lifetime trauma, lifetime tobacco and alcohol use, PTSD symptoms, and five estimated cell-type proportions. Higher ADI was associated with accelerated aging in GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE models (pscorrected <0.05) after adjusting for covariates. There was an ADI x CD-RISC interaction on GrimAge, such that the effect of neighborhood disadvantage was not significant among individuals with higher levels of individual psychological resources. Findings underscore a link between neighborhood disadvantage and accelerated biological aging and highlight several modifiable factors at both the neighborhood and individual levels associated with epigenetic age.