Social Capital Associates With Better Cognitive Health, Oral Health and Epigenetic Age Deceleration: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Authors

Aileen Liang
Noha Gomaa, Western UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-16-2023

Journal

International journal of aging & human development

Volume

16

First Page

914150231208689

Last Page

914150231208689

URL with Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1177/00914150231208689

Abstract

Background: Social exposures are linked to an array of health outcomes, especially around aging. In this study, we examined the association of social capital, defined as social relationships and networks, with clinical and biological outcomes including cognitive health, oral inflammation, and epigenetic aging. Methods: We used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) (n =1,479; aged 45–85 years), categorizing social capital as structural and cognitive capital. Oral inflammation was determined as the presence of gum bleeding. Epigenetic aging was computed as the difference between chronological age and DNA methylation age. We constructed multivariable regression models adjusted for covariates to assess the relationships of interest. Results: Higher structural social capital was associated with decelerated epigenetic aging and better cognitive health outcomes, while higher cognitive social capital was associated with better cognitive outcomes and less oral inflammation. Conclusion: Enhanced social capital may contribute to better clinical and biological outcomes around aging.

Creative Commons License

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