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Recent research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association underscores the profound impact of heart-healthy lifestyles on biological aging and cardiovascular health outcomes. The study, led by Jiantao Ma, Ph.D., from Tufts University, focused on the role of DNA methylation—a process influencing gene expression—in mediating these effects.
The study leveraged data from the Framingham Heart Study, involving 5,682 adults over 11-14 years. Participants were assessed using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 tool, which evaluates lifestyle factors critical to heart health. Factors assessed included diet quality, physical activity, sleep duration, smoking status, body mass index, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Key findings revealed that for every 13-point increase in Life’s Essential 8 score, the risk of first-time cardiovascular disease dropped by 35%, cardiovascular death by 36%, and all-cause mortality by 29%. These improvements were particularly pronounced in individuals genetically predisposed to accelerated biological aging, where DNA methylation accounted for significant risk reduction.
“The study findings tell us that no matter what your actual age is, better heart-healthy behaviors and managing heart disease risk factors were associated with a younger biological age and a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, death from heart disease and stroke and death from any cause,” explained Dr. Ma.
DNA methylation emerged as a crucial mediator, reflecting how lifestyle choices can impact biological age independently of chronological age. “While genetics largely determine biological age, it can also be affected by lifestyle choices and stress,” Ma noted.
Randi Foraker, Ph.D., from Washington University School of Medicine, highlighted the study’s implications: “The findings suggest that DNA methylation may serve as a mediator between modifiable risk factors and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the role of cardiovascular health in healthy aging and disease prevention.”
However, the study’s limitations include its predominantly European ancestry participants, which may affect generalizability to other racial and ethnic groups. Future research aims to address these gaps and further explore the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, DNA methylation, and health outcomes.
The study underscores the importance of adopting heart-healthy behaviors to promote cardiovascular health and potentially extend longevity. As cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death globally, these insights offer valuable guidance for public health initiatives and individual health management strategies.
For more information, the study titled “Epigenetic Age Mediates the Association of Life’s Essential 8 With Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality” was published on May 29, 2024, in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
