Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7278911 | Biological Psychology | 2014 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) poses a risk for mental disorders and aging-related diseases. Accelerated biological aging, reflected in shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), may underlie these risks. We examined whether objectively recorded ELS and retrospectively self-reported traumatic experiences across the lifespan are associated with LTL in later adulthood. Of 1486 participants, 215 had been exposed to ELS, namely to temporary separation from both parents in childhood. Participants self-reported emotionally or physically traumatic experiences across the lifespan at a mean age of 63.2 years. LTL was measured using a quantitative PCR method at a mean age of 61.5 years. Separation or self-reported traumatic experiences were not associated with LTL. However, separated participants who self-reported traumatic experiences had shorter LTL. Our results suggest that while ELS or self-reported traumatic experiences are not per se associated with LTL measured decades later, ELS may in combination with self-reported traumatic events be associated with accelerated biological aging.
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Behavioral Neuroscience
Authors
Katri Savolainen, Johan G. Eriksson, Laura Kananen, Eero Kajantie, Anu-Katriina Pesonen, Kati Heinonen, Katri Räikkönen,