Is childhood maltreatment tied to epigenetic aging? - Report - MDSpire
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Is childhood maltreatment tied to epigenetic aging?

Court-documented maltreatment was associated with small differences in GrimAge and DunedinPACE in sixth decade of life, but neither difference was statistically significant.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • August 13, 2026

  • 3 min

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Clinical Report: Is childhood maltreatment tied to epigenetic aging?

Overview

This study investigates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and biological aging in adults. Participants with documented maltreatment showed older biological aging metrics, but the differences were small and not statistically significant.

Background

Childhood maltreatment is a significant public health concern linked to various adverse health outcomes in adulthood.

Data Highlights

The study included 276 adult participants, with 164 having documented childhood maltreatment and 112 matched controls. Biological aging was assessed using GrimAge and DunedinPACE epigenetic clocks.

Key Findings

  • Participants with childhood maltreatment had older GrimAge and faster DunedinPACE measurements compared to controls.
  • Differences in biological aging metrics were small and not statistically significant.
  • Adjustment for smoking and BMI attenuated effect sizes.
  • Inverse-probability weighting did not change the results.
  • The study cautions against using epigenetic clocks clinically for assessing health risks associated with maltreatment.

Clinical Implications

The findings indicate that while there may be a connection between childhood maltreatment and biological aging, the small effect sizes suggest caution in using these biomarkers for individual health assessments.

Conclusion

The study presents modest associations between childhood maltreatment and biological aging.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Belsky DW, et al., JAMA Network Open, 2023 -- Is childhood maltreatment tied to epigenetic aging?
  2. Wong et al., JAMA Network Open, 2023 -- Long-Term Physical Health Consequences of Child Maltreatment
  3. Green et al., American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B, 2026 -- A Systematic Review of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Epigenetic Age Acceleration
  4. BMC Medicine — Adverse events in both childhood and adulthood are associated with molecular, clinical and functional markers of ageing
  5. BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — Associations between childhood maltreatment, PTSD and metabolic outcomes in patients with common mental disorders at outpatient clinics in specialized care
  6. MDSpire News — Discrimination Linked to Faster Aging
  7. Final Recommendation Statement: Prevention of Child Maltreatment
  8. Adverse events in both childhood and adulthood are associated with molecular, clinical and functional markers of ageing
  9. A Systematic Review of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Epigenetic Age Acceleration in Later Adult Life Measured With Second and Third‐Generation Epigenetic Clocks - Green - 2026 - American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics - Wiley Online Library
  10. Epigenetic clocks and DNA methylation biomarkers of brain health and disease | Nature Reviews Neurology

Original Source(s)

Is childhood maltreatment tied to epigenetic aging?

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • August 13, 2026

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