Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults
<p><strong>Background</strong></p> Poor immune function is associated with increased risk for a number of age-related diseases, however, little is known about the impact of early life trauma on immune function in late-life. <p><strong>Methods</strong></p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2023
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| _version_ | 1797110861630799872 |
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| author | Noppert, GA Duchowny, KA Stebbins, R Aiello, AE Dowd, JB Clarke, P |
| author_facet | Noppert, GA Duchowny, KA Stebbins, R Aiello, AE Dowd, JB Clarke, P |
| author_sort | Noppert, GA |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p><strong>Background</strong></p>
Poor immune function is associated with increased risk for a number of age-related diseases, however, little is known about the impact of early life trauma on immune function in late-life.
<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>
Using nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 5,823), we examined the association between experiencing parental/caregiver death or separation before age 16 and four indicators of immune function in late-life: C-reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor (sTNFR), and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to cytomegalovirus (CMV). We also examined racial/ethnic differences.
<p><strong>Findings</strong></p>
Individuals that identified as racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to experience parental/caregiver loss and parental separation in early life compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, and had poorer immune function in late-life. We found consistent associations between experiencing parental/caregiver loss and separation and poor immune function measured by CMV IgG levels and IL-6 across all racial/ethnic subgroups. For example, among Non-Hispanic Blacks, those that experienced parental/caregiver death before age 16 had a 26% increase in CMV IgG antibodies in late-life (β = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.34) compared to a 3% increase in CMV antibodies among Non-Hispanic Whites (β = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.07) controlling for age, gender, and parental education.
<p><strong>Interpretation</strong></p>
Our results suggest a durable association between experiencing early life trauma and immune health in late-life, and that structural forces may shape the ways in which these relationships unfold over the life course. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:00:38Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:8722002c-2991-4f18-9388-16784968425e |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:00:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:8722002c-2991-4f18-9388-16784968425e2023-09-20T10:33:48ZBiological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adultsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:8722002c-2991-4f18-9388-16784968425eEnglishSymplectic ElementsPublic Library of Science2023Noppert, GADuchowny, KAStebbins, RAiello, AEDowd, JBClarke, P<p><strong>Background</strong></p> Poor immune function is associated with increased risk for a number of age-related diseases, however, little is known about the impact of early life trauma on immune function in late-life. <p><strong>Methods</strong></p> Using nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 5,823), we examined the association between experiencing parental/caregiver death or separation before age 16 and four indicators of immune function in late-life: C-reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor (sTNFR), and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to cytomegalovirus (CMV). We also examined racial/ethnic differences. <p><strong>Findings</strong></p> Individuals that identified as racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to experience parental/caregiver loss and parental separation in early life compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, and had poorer immune function in late-life. We found consistent associations between experiencing parental/caregiver loss and separation and poor immune function measured by CMV IgG levels and IL-6 across all racial/ethnic subgroups. For example, among Non-Hispanic Blacks, those that experienced parental/caregiver death before age 16 had a 26% increase in CMV IgG antibodies in late-life (β = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.34) compared to a 3% increase in CMV antibodies among Non-Hispanic Whites (β = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.07) controlling for age, gender, and parental education. <p><strong>Interpretation</strong></p> Our results suggest a durable association between experiencing early life trauma and immune health in late-life, and that structural forces may shape the ways in which these relationships unfold over the life course. |
| spellingShingle | Noppert, GA Duchowny, KA Stebbins, R Aiello, AE Dowd, JB Clarke, P Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
| title | Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
| title_full | Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
| title_fullStr | Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
| title_short | Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
| title_sort | biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults |
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