SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING ASSOCIATED WITH EPIGENETIC AGE ACCELERATION: EVIDENCE FROM THE MULTI-ETHNIC STUDY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Introduction Identifying contributors to accelerated aging may elucidate risks and mechanisms for age-related diseases and mortality. A DNA methylation (DNAm)-based marker of fast biological aging, epigenetic age acceleration, is associated with modifiable lifestyle factors. Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a common disorder that results in oxidative stress and inflammation and is associated with multiple age-related health disorders; however, SBD has not been well studied with respect to epigenetic aging. We examined the association of SDB traits with epigenetic age acceleration, and whether the association differed by sex. Methods A diverse sample (N = 622) had blood DNA methylation measured and underwent Type 2 in-home polysomnography, which assessed apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), percentage of sleep time that oxygen saturation is lower than 90% (Per90 …