Climate-related disasters and biological aging based on DNA methylation: a twin and family study in Australian women

作者：Wenzhong Huang, Rongbin Xu, Yao Wu, Zhengyu Yang, Ee Ming Wong, Melissa C. Southey, John L. Hopper, Michael J. Abramson, Elizabeth A. Ritchie, Shanshan Li, Shuai Li, Yuming Guo · 发表于：International Journal of Epidemiology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1093/ije/dyaf189 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Climate Change and Health Impacts、Disaster Management and Resilience、Epigenetics and DNA Methylation

BACKGROUND: Weather-related disasters are devastating and may exhibit greater intensity globally under a changing climate, leaving survivors with greater and sustained health risks. However, the potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying the persistent adverse health impacts remain unclear. We aimed to examine the association between tropical cyclones (TCs) or flood exposure and biological aging based on DNA methylation. METHODS: We analysed peripheral blood samples from 479 women in 130 families across Australia and derived six metrics of DNA methylation age acceleration (DNAmAgeAC) for each participant, including Horvath's, Hannum's, and Zhang's DNAmAge, PhenoAge, and GrimAge versions 1 (GrimAge1) and 2 (GrimAge2). Linear mixed-effect and distributed lag nonlinear models accounting for familial clustering and delayed effects were used to estimate the DNAmAgeAC associated with TCs or flood exposure. RESULTS: TCs or flood exposures were generally associated with higher DNAmAgeAC of various metrics, which persisted for ≤6 months after exposure. Overall, participants exposed to TCs or floods had higher DNAmAgeAC based on Horvath's age [2.66 years, 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.94 to 8.27; P = .357], Hannum's age (6.81 years, 95% CI: 1.75-11.88; P = .008), PhenoAge (8.96 years, 95% CI: 2.35-15.57; P = .008), Zhang's age (0.93 years, 95% CI: -0.56 to 2.42; P = .224), GrimAge1 (2.60 years, 95% CI: -0.64 to 5.83; P = .115), and GrimAge2 (4.31 years, 95% CI: 0.52-8.09; P = .026)....