https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9714-9025
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ABSTRACT
Background: Cumulative exposure to violence can change the regulation of epigenetic and physiological markers. Although violence has been associated with accelerated cellular aging, little is known about associations with cardiac autonomic activity.
Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the relationship of exposure to community and domestic violence (CDV) with vagal activity and epigenetic aging acceleration.
Methods: A total of 86 adolescents (57% female) were evaluated and interviewed at two time-points in São Gonçalo (2014–2019), a Brazilian city with high levels of violence. Exposure to CDV was assessed in both time-points. GrimAge acceleration was calculated from saliva DNA methylation using Infinium HumanMethylation450K (Illumina) collected in the first assessment. Heart rate variability (HRV) was collected during two stress tasks at the second assessment.
Results: The exposure to violence witnessed or directly experienced at home and in the community increased significantly (t = 4.87, p < .01) across two-time points, and males had reported higher violence exposure (t = 2.06, p = .043). Violence at 1st assessment was significantly associated with GrimAge acceleration (B = .039, p value = .043). Violence at both assessments were associated with HRV measured during the narration of the worst trauma (traumaHRV) (B = .009, p value = .039, and B = .007, p value = .024, 1st and 2nd assessment respectively). GrimAge acceleration was significantly associated with traumaHRV (B = .043, p value = .049), and HRV measured during a 3D roller coaster video (B = .061, p value = .024).
Conclusions: We found relevant evidence that experiencing violence during adolescence is associated with epigenetic aging and stress-related vagal activity. Understanding these factors during this period could contribute to the development of early interventions for health promotion.
HIGHLIGHTS
Higher exposure to Community and domestic violence is associated with increased GrimAge acceleration.
Higher GrimAge acceleration is associated with increased stress-related vagal activity.
Exposure to community and domestic violence increased significantly over time.
Antecedentes: La exposición acumulativa a la violencia puede cambiar la regulación de los marcadores epigenéticos y fisiológicos. Aunque la violencia se ha asociado con el envejecimiento celular acelerado, se sabe poco acerca de las asociaciones con la actividad autonómica cardíaca.
Objetivo: El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la relación entre la exposición a la violencia doméstica y comunitaria (CDV por sus siglas en inglés) con la actividad vagal y la aceleración del envejecimiento epigenético.
Métodos: Un total de 86 adolescentes (57% mujeres) fueron evaluados y entrevistados en dos momentos en São Gonçalo (2014–2019), una ciudad brasileña con altos niveles de violencia. La exposición a la violencia comunitaria y doméstica se evaluó en ambos momentos. La aceleración del GrimAge se calculó a partir de la metilación del ADN de la saliva, utilizando Infinium HumanMethylation450K (Illumina) recopilada en la primera evaluación. La variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca (HRV por sus siglas en inglés) se recogió durante dos tareas de estrés en la segunda evaluación.
Resultados: La exposición a la violencia presenciada o experimentada directamente en el hogar y en la comunidad aumentó significativamente (t = 4.87, p < .01) a lo largo de los dos momentos, los varones informaron una exposición mayor a la violencia (t = 2.06, p = .043). La violencia en la primera evaluación se asoció significativamente con la aceleración del GrimAge (B = 0.039, valour p = .043). La violencia en ambas evaluaciones se asoció con la HRV medida durante la narración del peor trauma (trauma HRV) (B = 0.009, valour p = .039, y B = 0.007, valour p = .024, primera y segunda evaluación respectivamente). La aceleración del GrimAge se asoció significativamente con trauma HRV (B = 0.043, valor p = .049) y la HRV medida durante un video de montaña rusa en 3D (B = 0.061, valor p = .024).
Conclusiones: Encontramos evidencia relevante de que experimentar violencia durante la adolescencia se asocia con el envejecimiento epigenético y la actividad vagal relacionada con el estrés. Comprender estos factores durante la adolescencia puede contribuir al desarrollo de intervenciones tempranas para la promoción de la salud.
背景：累积的暴力暴露可以改变表观遗传和生理标志物的调节。尽管暴力与加速细胞衰老有关，对于它与心脏自主神经活动的关联知之甚少。
目的：本研究旨在考查社区暴力和家庭暴力 (CDV) 暴露与迷走神经活动和表观遗传老化加速之间的关系。
方法：在一个高暴力的巴西城市圣贡萨洛，共有 86 名青少年（57% 为女性）在两个时间点（2014–2019 年）接受评估和访谈。在两个时间点都评估了 CDV 暴露。使用在第一次评估中使用 Infinium HumanMethylation450K (Illumina芯片) 收集的唾液 DNA 甲基化计算 GrimAge 加速。 在第二次评估时的两次压力任务期间收集心率变异性 (HRV)。
结果：在两个时间点上，在家庭和社区目睹或直接经历的暴力暴露显著增加 (t = 4.87，p < .01)，男性报告的暴力暴露更高 (t = 2.06，p = .043)。第一次评估时的暴力行为与 GrimAge 加速显著相关（B = .039，p = .043）。 两次评估中的暴力都与最严重创伤叙述期间测量的 HRV (traumaHRV) 相关（第一次和第二次评估分别为B = .009，p = .039，B = .007，p = .024）。 GrimAge 加速度与 traumaHRV（B = .043，p = .049）和 3D 过山车视频期间测量的 HRV 显著相关（B = .061，p = .024）。
结论：我们发现相关证据表明，在青春期经历暴力与表观遗传衰老和压力相关的迷走神经活动有关。 在青春期了解这些因素有助于制定早期健康促进干预措施。
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all participants for making this study possible. We are also thankful to Prof. Dr. Eliane Volchan and Prof. Dr. Michel Reis for the valuable insights into the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The R script of our analysis data is available in ‘figshare' at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21614241.v1. It must be noted that the Brazilian raw data can be acquired by contacting the main authors of this paper, but will be subjected to individual written consents, and assurance that all research done on the material will follow the ethical protocols.