Maria Brown
School of Social Work, Syracuse University
Background: Biological aging provides a significant opportunity to rethink the aging process and heath across the life course. Disparities in poor health outcomes can be partially attributed to weathering, or accelerated physiological aging due to chronic exposure to psychosocial stress, and may result in different biological profiles in individuals of the same chronological age. Understanding the incongruence between chronological and biological age can provide insights into which adults may need support earlier than the mandated chronological age for access to certain resources.
Epigenetic clocks are one way to assess the difference between chronological and biological age. Using epigenetic clocks to explore differences in vulnerability to poor health outcomes can enhance our understanding of drivers of health inequities that have previously been inadequately identified or quantified. This pilot aims to evaluate the association between accelerated biological aging and functional limitations and the moderating effect of perceived discrimination among Blacks, Hispanics and Whites.
Aim 1: Examine how accelerated biological aging, as measured by epigenetic clocks, is associated with functional limitations in older adults.
Aim 2: Evaluate how the relationship between epigenetic clocks and functional limitations is impacted by perceived discrimination in later life among Black, Hispanic, and White older adults.