A1 Journal article (refereed)
Do Epigenetic Clocks Provide Explanations for Sex Differences in Life Span? : A Cross-Sectional Twin Study (2022)
Kankaanpää, A., Tolvanen, A., Saikkonen, P., Heikkinen, A., Laakkonen, E. K., Kaprio, J., Ollikainen, M., & Sillanpää, E. (2022). Do Epigenetic Clocks Provide Explanations for Sex Differences in Life Span? : A Cross-Sectional Twin Study. Journals of Gerontology Series A : Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 77(9), 1898-1906. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab337
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Kankaanpää, Anna; Tolvanen, Asko; Saikkonen, Pirkko; Heikkinen, Aino; Laakkonen, Eija K; Kaprio, Jaakko; Ollikainen, Miina; Sillanpää, Elina
Journal or series: Journals of Gerontology Series A : Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
ISSN: 1079-5006
eISSN: 1758-535X
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 09/11/2021
Volume: 77
Issue number: 9
Pages range: 1898-1906
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab337
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82830
Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.23.21252194v1
Abstract
The sex gap in life expectancy has been narrowing in Finland over the past four to five decades; however, on average, women still live longer than men. Epigenetic clocks are markers for biological aging that predict lifespan. In this study, we examined the mediating role of lifestyle factors on the association between sex and biological aging in younger and older adults.
Methods
Our sample consists of younger and older twins (21‒42-y, n = 1477; 50‒76-y, n = 763) including 151 complete younger opposite-sex twin pairs (21‒30-y). Blood-based DNA methylation (DNAm) was used to compute epigenetic age acceleration by four epigenetic clocks as a measure of biological aging. Path modelling was used to study whether the association between sex and biological aging is mediated through lifestyle-related factors, i.e. education, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity.
Results
In comparison to women, men were biologically older and, in general, they had unhealthier life habits. The effect of sex on biological aging was partly mediated by body mass index and, in older twins, by smoking. Sex was directly associated with biological aging and the association was stronger in older twins.
Conclusions
Previously reported sex differences in lifespan are also evident in biological aging. Declining smoking prevalence among men is a plausible explanation for the narrowing of the difference in life expectancy between the sexes. Data generated by the epigenetic clocks may help in estimating the effects of lifestyle and environmental factors on aging and in predicting aging in future generations.
Keywords: ageing; lifetime (age); gender differences; epigenetics; DNA methylation; lifestyle habits
Free keywords: DNA methylation; sex gap; lifestyle; lifespan; biological age
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Investigating causal interactions between physical activity and cardiometabolic disease via polygenic risk scores
- Sillanpää, Elina
- Juho Vainio Foundation
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 3
