A recent study has unveiled how epigenetic markers—chemical changes that influence gene activity—could play a crucial role in predicting the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. These findings offer promising avenues for personalizing prevention strategies, especially as the prevalence of key risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity continues to rise, despite advancements in medical treatment and healthcare. The increasing rates of these conditions underscore the urgent need for improved early detection and intervention.
Published in the Epigenetics journal, the study, titled “Poly-epigenetic Scores for Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Interact with Demographic Factors and Health Behaviors in Older US Adults,” focuses on poly-epigenetic scores (PEGS). Researchers believe that PEGS, which account for various epigenetic modifications, may offer a more accurate reflection of how an individual’s environment and lifestyle influence their susceptibility to cardiometabolic diseases. By considering demographic factors like age, sex, and education, as well as health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, the study aims to tailor early prevention and intervention strategies.
Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which tracks over 20,000 adults aged 50 and older, and DNA samples from 4,104 participants in the 2016 Venous Blood Study (VBS), the researchers analyzed the relationship between PEGS and various cardiometabolic risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), cholesterol levels, and inflammation. The analysis, which included 3,996 participants in the main study, found notable differences in the associations of PEGS with these risk factors based on demographic characteristics and health behaviors.
Notably, the study found that PEGS associations with BMI, HDL cholesterol (commonly referred to as “good” cholesterol), and triglycerides were stronger in younger individuals. Furthermore, the associations between PEGS and BMI and HDL cholesterol were more pronounced in females. The study also discovered that individuals with a high school education showed a stronger connection between PEGS and C-reactive protein (CRP), a key marker of inflammation linked to heart disease. Additionally, the relationship between PEGS and HDL cholesterol was found to be stronger among current smokers, suggesting that smoking may influence how epigenetic markers affect cholesterol levels.
“The findings reinforce the notion that genetic risk is not fixed—lifestyle choices and environmental factors play a significant role in shaping health outcomes,” said Dr. Lisha Lin, the study’s lead author and postdoctoral research fellow at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife. “By integrating epigenetic markers into risk assessment models, we can shift towards more personalized approaches for preventing and managing cardiometabolic diseases.”
The study underscores the potential of PEGS in precision medicine, highlighting the need to consider individual characteristics and behaviors when evaluating disease risk. Researchers hope these findings will contribute to the development of more targeted interventions, particularly for those at heightened risk of cardiometabolic diseases.
This research was supported in part by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under Grant number R01 AA026687 and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under Grant number R01 HL141292.
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