Abstract
Recent research has identified a DNA methylation signature of biological aging. The “DNA methylation age” algorithms derived from this line of work can be used to determine the pathogenic factors that accelerate cellular aging (i.e., when cellular age exceeds chronological age) and the health correlates of advanced DNA methylation age. This presentation will review the results of several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies focused on traumatic-stress related accelerated aging and implications for health disparities. Results broadly suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with accelerated DNA methylation age and that accelerated DNA methylation age is associated with a variety of health conditions and outcomes, including metabolic syndrome, decreased neural integrity, and shortened time until death. Demographic factors may moderate these associations and help to explain age, sex, and/or race-related health disparities that are frequently reported in the literature.