Associations Between Grimage Acceleration and Pulmonary Function in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Abstract

Background: The objective of this research was to determine whether pulmonary function is associated with epigenetic aging (GrimAge) and whether GrimAge predicts emphysema. Methods: This prospective study examined 1042 participants enrolled as part of a community-based longitudinal cohort. The cross-sectional associations between pulmonary function and GrimAge, measured at study year (Y) 20 (participant ages 40–45 years), and prospective associations with emphysema at Y25 were examined. Results: At Y20, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and FEV₁/forced vital capacity (FVC) were negatively associated with GrimAge; for Y0–Y10 cumulative measures, only the FEV₁/FVC ratio was associated with GrimAge at Y15 and Y20. Emphysema at Y25 was associated with GrimAge at Y15 and Y20. Conclusion: Pulmonary function was associated with GrimAge during early and mid-life; GrimAge partially mediated the association between pulmonary function and emphysema.

Keywords::

• aging
• DNA methylation age
• emphysema
• lung function
• methylation

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/epi-2023-0164

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA) is conducted and supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (HHSN268201800005I & HHSN268201800007I), Northwestern University (HHSN268201800003I), University of Minnesota (HHSN268201800006I) and Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (HHSN268201800004I). CARDIA is also partially supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and an intra-agency agreement between NIA and NHLBI (AG0005). The laboratory work and analytical component were funded by the American Heart Association (17SFRN33700278 & 14SFRN20790000). The study analysis was also supported by grants from the NHLBI (1R01HL15569-01A1) and NIA (R21AG068955, R01AG069120 and R01AG081244). This manuscript has been reviewed by CARDIA for scientific content. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA) is conducted and supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (HHSN268201800005I & HHSN268201800007I), Northwestern University (HHSN268201800003I), University of Minnesota (HHSN268201800006I) and Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (HHSN268201800004I). CARDIA is also partially supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and an intra-agency agreement between NIA and NHLBI (AG0005). The laboratory work and analytical component were funded by the American Heart Association (17SFRN33700278 & 14SFRN20790000). The study analysis was also supported by grants from the NHLBI (1R01HL15569-01A1) and NIA (R21AG068955, R01AG069120 and R01AG081244). This manuscript has been reviewed by CARDIA for scientific content. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.