Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40711447›Full record

ArticleAging2025

Second generation DNA methylation age predicts cognitive change in midlife: the moderating role of childhood socioeconomic status.

Sophie A Bell, Christopher R Beam, Ebrahim Zandi, Alyssa Kam, Emily Andrews, Jonathan Becker, Deborah Finkel, Deborah W Davis, Eric Turkheimer

Abstract readTwin Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sophie A BellDepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
Christopher R BeamDepartment of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Ebrahim ZandiKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Alyssa KamDepartment of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Emily AndrewsDepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
Jonathan BeckerDepartment of Family and Geriatric Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Deborah FinkelInstitute for Gerontology, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
Deborah W DavisDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Eric TurkheimerDepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.

Funding

Past, Present, and Future Risk of Cognitive Decline and Cognitive Impairment in the Louisville Twin StudyR01AG063949 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Christopher Ryan Beam, DEBORAH WINDERS DAVIS · 2019 to 2026
$7.8M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG063949
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) surpasses chronological age in its ability to predict age-related morbidities and mortality. This study analyzed data from 287 middle-aged twins in the Louisville Twin Study (mean age 51.9 years ± 7.03) to investigate the effect of DNAmAge acceleration on change in IQ (ΔIQ) between childhood and midlife, while testing childhood socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator of the relationship. DNAmAge was estimated with five commonly used algorithms, or epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Horvath Skin and Blood, GrimAge, and PhenoAge). A factor analysis of these measures produced a two-factor structure which we identified as first generation and second generation measures. Results of genetically informed, quasi-causal regression models indicated that accelerated second generation DNAmAge predicted more negative ΔIQ from childhood to midlife, after accounting for genetic and environmental confounds shared by twins. The relationship between DNAmAge and ΔIQ was moderated by childhood SES, with a stronger effect observed among twins from low SES backgrounds. Second generation DNAmAge measures trained to estimate phenotypic biological age show promise in their predictive value for cognitive decline in midlife. Our genetically informed twin design suggested that epigenetic aging may represent a pathway through which early-life socioeconomic disadvantage impacts midlife cognitive health.

Indexed as

AgingCognitionDNA MethylationSocial ClassAdultChildEpigenesis, GeneticFemaleHumansIntelligenceMaleMiddle AgedcognitionDNA methylationepigenetic agelifespansocioeconomic status

Identifiers

PMID40711447
PMCPMC12339020

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.