Peer-reviewed article
Nativity and epigenetic age acceleration among Hispanics/Latinos in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinosl (HCHS/SOL).
S F Suglia, S Johnson, J Aqua, C Dye, M Llabre et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines how nativity status and age of immigration affect epigenetic aging in Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States. Using DNA methylation data from 961 adults measured six years apart, researchers found that foreign-born adults who immigrated as adults showed lower epigenetic age acceleration compared to U.S.-born adults. The findings suggest migration status may influence biological aging processes, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Key points
- Foreign-born adults arriving at age 18+ had lower GrimAge acceleration than U.S.-born counterparts across age groups 18-39 and 40-54
- No differences in epigenetic age acceleration were found for those who arrived as children (under 18)
- Study measured DNA methylation at two time points six years apart using epigenetic clocks
- Results suggest nativity status may be associated with biological aging rates in Hispanic/Latino populations
Limitations
This study focuses on adult Hispanic/Latino populations and does not directly address child well-being. The cross-sectional and longitudinal design cannot establish causation, and the underlying mechanisms driving nativity-related differences in epigenetic aging remain unexplained.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine nativity and age of immigration to U.S. and epigenetic age acceleration among Hispanics/Latinos residing in the U.S. METHODS: A subsample of 961 Hispanic/Latino adults participating in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos was included in the analyses. DNAm was measured from whole blood, at two different time points six years apart, using the Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) was calculated using the PhenoAge, GrimAge and DunedinPACE second-generation epigenetic clocks. Nativity was categorized as U.S.-born, non-U.S.-born arriving as a child (<18 years), and non-U.S.-born arriving as an adult (≥18 years). Linear regression models were adjusted for age and cell-type proportions as time-dependent covariates and sex, educational attainment, and smoking status at baseline. RESULTS: Foreign-born status was associated with lower GrimAge Acceleration (GrimAA). In age-stratified models, non-U.S.-born persons who arrived in the U.S. as adults and were aged 18-39 (GrimAA: B = -1.09, 95% CI: -2.00, -0.17) and 40-54 (GrimAA: B = -1.16, 95% CI: -1.97, -0.35) years at baseline had lower GrimAA compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. There were no differences in EAA among non-U.S.-born participants who arrived in the U.S. as children (vs. U.S.-born), regardless of age. CONCLUSION: Among Hispanic/Latino adults, foreign-born status was associated with lower epigenetic aging. Further research is needed to understand the migration-related, social, and environmental factors underlying these differences.