Dietary Fatty Acids and Epigenetic Aging in US Adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Fatty acids are involved in disease risk and aging processes. In the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002), we tested for associations of total, saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), and subtypes of dietary fatty acids with DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers, adjusting for age, BMI, total energy intake, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors (N=2,260). Higher SFA and MUFA were associated with greater GrimAge2, an aging biomarker of mortality; PUFA was associated with lower Horvath1, Hannum, and PhenoAge (<0.

U.S. Federal and State Medicaid Spending: Health Policy Patterns by Political Party Leadership and Census Demographics.

Medicaid is a vital public health program, serving over 70 million Americans from many backgrounds. Understanding how Medicaid spending varies by political leadership and demographic factors can inform policy discussions and advocacy efforts. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of state Medicaid spending using publicly available data.

One-carbon metabolism-related compounds are associated with epigenetic aging biomarkers: results from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.

Background: One-carbon metabolism (OCM), a biochemical pathway dependent on micronutrients including B vitamins, plays an essential role in aging-related physiological processes. DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers may be influenced by OCM.

Objectives: This study investigated associations of OCM-related biomarkers with epigenetic aging biomarkers in the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002).

Sensory impairments and epigenetic aging: insights from self-rated hearing and vision in United States adults.

Sensory impairments are common with aging, but studies examining the relationships of these impairments with DNA methylation-based biomarkers of aging, strong predictors of morbidity and mortality, remain sparse. We investigated whether subjective measures of sensory impairment are associated with epigenetic age biomarkers. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in a representative sample of 2344 U.

Health insurance and epigenetic aging: Trends in a United States adult population.

Background: Health insurance plays an important role in reducing morbidity and mortality. Still, there is limited data examining the relationships of health insurance with biomarkers of aging that reflect morbidity and mortality risk.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of United States adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the relationships of health insurance with seven DNA methylation-based biomarkers of aging (epigenetic age): HannumAge, HorvathAge, SkinBloodAge, PhenoAge, GrimAge2, DNAm Telomere Length, and DunedinPoAm.

Associations of epigenetic aging with self-rated health, access to care, and healthcare utilization in a representative sample of United States adults.

Background: Health status is closely linked to both healthcare access and utilization. While previous research has identified associations between health status and DNA methylation-based biomarkers of aging (epigenetic aging), studies exploring these relationships in the context of healthcare access and utilization remain limited. To address this gap, we analyzed cross-sectional associations in a representative sample of 2,343 U.

Influence of race, ethnicity, and sex on the performance of epigenetic predictors of phenotypic traits.

Background: DNA methylation-based predictors of phenotypic traits including leukocyte proportions, smoking activity, biological aging, and circulating levels of plasma proteins are widely used as biomarkers in public health research. However, limited racial and ethnic diversity of research participants is an ongoing issue for epigenetics research, and the potential downstream impacts of limited diversity in training samples on the performance of epigenetic predictors remains poorly understood. We examined the performance of epigenetic predictors of chronological age (also known as epigenetic clocks), telomere length, cell proportions, and plasma proteins within a diverse sample of adult NHANES participants during the 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 survey cycles, both overall and stratified by self-reported race/ethnicity and sex.

Comparing Veteran and Nonveteran Epigenetic Aging in a Representative Sample of United States Adults.

Introduction: Military service can significantly impact human health, with research showing that veterans experience higher mortality rates than the general population. However, limited data exist on the relationships of veteran status with biomarkers of aging that may precede clinical illness and mortality.

Methods: Using survey-design weighted generalized linear regression models, we examined the cross-sectional relationship of self-reported veteran status with DNA methylation (DNAm)-based biomarkers of aging (epigenetic age) in a representative sample of 2344 U.

Immigrant status and citizenship relationships with epigenetic aging in a representative sample of United States adults.

Background: Immigrant status and citizenship influence health and well-being, yet their associations with DNA methylation (DNAm)-based biomarkers of aging - key predictors of healthspan and lifespan, also known as epigenetic aging - remain underexplored.

Methods: Using a representative sample of 2,336 United States (U.S.

Timing of menarche and menopause and epigenetic aging among U.S. adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.

Reproductive aging, including timing of menarche and menopause, influences long-term morbidity and mortality in women, yet underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using DNA methylation-based biomarkers, we assessed associations of age at menarche (N = 1,033) and menopause (N = 658) with epigenetic aging in a nationally representative sample of women ≥ 50 years. Later age at menopause was associated with lower GrimAge epigenetic age deviation ( = - 0.

Exposome-wide association study of environmental chemical exposures and epigenetic aging in the national health and nutrition examination survey.

Epigenetic clocks can serve as pivotal biomarkers linking environmental exposures with biological aging. However, research on the influence of environmental exposures on epigenetic aging has largely been limited to a small number of chemicals and specific populations. We harnessed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 cycles to examine exposome-wide associations between environmental exposures and epigenetic aging.

One-carbon metabolism-related compounds are associated with epigenetic aging biomarkers: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002.

Background: One-carbon metabolism (OCM), a biochemical pathway dependent on micronutrients including folate and vitamin B12, plays an essential role in aging-related physiological processes. DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers may be influenced by OCM.

Objective: This study investigated associations of OCM-related biomarkers with epigenetic aging biomarkers in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Timing of Menarche and Menopause and Epigenetic Aging among U.S. Adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.

Reproductive aging, including timing of menarche and menopause, influences long-term morbidity and mortality in women, yet underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using DNA methylation-based biomarkers, we assessed associations of age at menarche (N=1,033) and menopause (N=658) with epigenetic aging in a nationally representative sample of women ≥50 years. Later age at menopause was associated with lower GrimAge epigenetic age deviation ( = -0.

Bronchial cell epigenetic aging in a human experimental study of short-term diesel and ozone exposures.

Blood-based, observational, and cross-sectional epidemiological studies suggest that air pollutant exposures alter biological aging. In a single-blinded randomized crossover human experiment of 17 volunteers, we examined the effect of randomized 2-h controlled air pollution exposures on respiratory tissue epigenetic aging. Bronchial epithelial cell DNA methylation 24 h post-exposure was measured using the HumanMethylation450K BeadChip, and there was a minimum 2-week washout period between exposures.

Associations between use of chemical hair products and epigenetic age: Findings from the Sister Study.

Background: Hair products may be a source of harmful chemicals and have been linked to age-related health outcomes. We investigated whether the use of hair products is related to epigenetic age in a sample of Black (both Hispanic and non-Hispanic) and non-Hispanic White women.

Methods: In a subset of 4358 participants aged 35-74 years from the Sister Study, we estimated cross-sectional associations between self-reported use of four chemical hair products (permanent dye, semipermanent dye, straighteners/relaxers, and hair permanents/body waves) in the year before enrollment (2003-2009) and three DNA methylation-based measures of epigenetic age (DunedinPACE, GrimAge age acceleration [GrimAgeAccel], and PhenoAge age acceleration [PhenoAgeAccel]) using survey-weighted multivariable linear regressions.

Considering Burnout and Well-Being: Emergency Medicine Resident Shift Scheduling Platform and Satisfaction Insights from a Quality Improvement Project.

Few studies explore emergency medicine (EM) residency shift scheduling software as a mechanism to reduce administrative demands and broader resident burnout. A local needs assessment demonstrated a learning curve for chief resident schedulers and several areas for improvement. In an institutional quality improvement project, we utilized an external online cross-sectional convenience sampling pilot survey of United States EM residency programs to collect information on manual versus software-based resident shift scheduling practices and associated scheduler and scheduler-perceived resident satisfaction.

Need More Reasons to Curb Gun Violence?

This collection of images considers complex ethical, public health, and sociopolitical dimensions of firearm injuries. Since many firearm bullets contain lead, visual parallels are drawn between clinical and public health approaches to managing lead poisoning and efforts to reduce gun violence. Like lead toxicity from paint or water, gun violence and toxicity from retained ballistic fragments can adversely influence health and should be a source of concern to clinicians.

Global, regional and national burdens of non-melanoma skin cancer attributable to occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation for 183 countries, 2000-2019: A systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury.

Background: A World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) systematic review reported sufficient evidence for higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) amongst people occupationally exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). This article presents WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of global, regional, national and subnational occupational exposures to UVR for 195 countries/areas and the global, regional and national attributable burdens of NMSC for 183 countries, by sex and age group, for the years 2000, 2010 and 2019.

Methods: We calculated population-attributable fractions (PAFs) from estimates of the population occupationally exposed to UVR and the risk ratio for NMSC from the WHO/ILO systematic review.

Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and DNA methylation of newborns in cord blood.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of poor health outcomes later in life. Psychosocial stressors may also have intergenerational health effects by which parental ACEs are associated with mental and physical health of children. Epigenetic programming may be one mechanism linking parental ACEs to child health.

Psychological Stress and Epigenetic Aging in Older Men: The VA Normative Aging Study.

Psychological stress remains an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality throughout the life course. However, there have been counterintuitive findings reported in previous studies of older persons that examine the relationships of perceived psychological stress with DNA methylation-based markers of aging, which also serve as predictors of morbidity and mortality (epigenetic age/clocks). We aimed to replicate and expand findings from existing work by examining relationships of self-reported stress with nine epigenetic clocks: Hannum, Horvath, Intrinsic, Extrinsic, SkinBloodClock, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DNAm Telomere Length, and Pace of Aging.