Negative Life Events and Epigenetic Ageing

• In Event: Biosocial Pathways in Criminology: From Behavioral Traits to Biological Aging

Abstract

Negative life events (NLEs) are associated with accelerated biological aging, yet the extent to which these associations are driven by genetic and environmental factors remains unclear. In our previous study, we investigated the impact of NLEs on five epigenetic aging biomarkers (Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DunedinPACE) in 1,783 adults from the Netherlands Twin Register. Population-level analyses revealed significant associations between a higher number of NLEs—particularly financial adversities, sexual crimes, and job loss—and epigenetic age acceleration measured by GrimAge. These associations persisted after adjusting for BMI, smoking, and white blood cell counts. However, within discordant monozygotic twin pairs (N=263), the associations were attenuated, suggesting that shared familial factors (genetic and environmental) may confound these relationships.
Building on these findings, our ongoing research aims to disentangle genetic and environmental contributions to NLEs, epigenetic age acceleration, and their association. By applying univariate biometric models, we will estimate the heritability of various NLE as well as the five epigenetic aging biomarkers. Additionally, bivariate models will assess whether their association is primarily driven by shared genetic influences, familial environments, or unique environmental factors.

Authors

• Bodine Gonggrijp, NSCR / VU Amsterdam

• Jenny van Dongen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Biological Psychology