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Severe drought exposure in utero associates to children’s epigenetic age acceleration in a global climate change hot spot

Author

Listed:
  • Xi Qiao

    (Western Michigan University)

  • Bilinda Straight

    (Western Michigan University)

  • Duy Ngo

    (Western Michigan University)

  • Charles E. Hilton

    (University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill)

  • Charles Owuor Olungah

    (Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi)

  • Amy Naugle

    (Western Michigan University)

  • Claudia Lalancette

    (University of Michigan)

  • Belinda L. Needham

    (School of Public Health, University of Michigan)

Abstract

The goal of this study is to examine the association between in utero drought exposure and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in a global climate change hot spot. Calculations of EAA in adults using DNA methylation have been found to accurately predict chronic disease and longevity. However, fewer studies have examined EAA in children, and drought exposure in utero has not been investigated. Additionally, studies of EAA in low-income countries with diverse populations are rare. We assess EAA using epigenetic clocks and two DNAm-based pace-of-aging measurements from whole saliva samples in 104 drought-exposed children and 109 same-sex sibling controls in northern Kenya. We find a positive association between in utero drought exposure and EAA in two epigenetic clocks (Hannum’s and GrimAge) and a negative association in the DNAm based telomere length (DNAmTL) clock. The combined impact of drought’s multiple deleterious stressors may reduce overall life expectancy through accelerated epigenetic aging.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Qiao & Bilinda Straight & Duy Ngo & Charles E. Hilton & Charles Owuor Olungah & Amy Naugle & Claudia Lalancette & Belinda L. Needham, 2024. "Severe drought exposure in utero associates to children’s epigenetic age acceleration in a global climate change hot spot," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48426-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48426-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Needham, Belinda L. & Straight, Bilinda & Hilton, Charles E. & Olungah, Charles Owuor & Lin, Jue, 2021. "Family socioeconomic status and child telomere length among the Samburu of Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    2. Alison Comfort, 2016. "Long-term effect of in utero conditions on maternal survival later in life: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(2), pages 493-527, April.
    3. Randell, Heather & Gray, Clark & Grace, Kathryn, 2020. "Stunted from the start: Early life weather conditions and child undernutrition in Ethiopia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    4. Alison B. Comfort, 2016. "Long-term effect of in utero conditions on maternal survival later in life: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(2), pages 493-527, April.
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