Brooke Slipka
Research Mentor(s): Grace Noppert
Mentor Department: Survey Research Center
Authors: Kate Duchowny, Grace Noppert, Brooke Slipka
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 8
Abstract
Introduction: This study explores the relationship between early-life trauma and immune function later in life using immune aging markers. These data quantify how childhood trauma may “get under the skin†and affect immune function in adulthood. The study uses data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (HRS), with 6,829 participants, mean age 69.5 years, and 59% women. Methods: [Primary Exposure] Early-life trauma was self-reported, with participants indicating if they experienced any of the following before age 18: parental physical abuse, encounters with police, repeating a school year, or a history of drug or alcohol abuse. [Primary Outcome] Immune aging markers included: (CD8+:CD4+, EMRA CD4+:Naïve CD4+, EMRA CD8+:Naïve CD8+, and CMV IgG). Higher values indicate a more aged immune profile. Models were run separately for men and women, with markers standardized for interpretation. Results were strongest for women, specifically for the CD8:CD4 ratio and CMV antibody levels: Results: Among women, after adjusting for age, compared to those with no trauma before 18, those with 3+ traumas had 0.36 SD higher CMV IgG antibody levels (ß = 0.36, p<0.5). For the CD8:CD4 ratio, compared to individuals with no trauma before 18, those with 3+ traumas before age 15 had a 0.27 SD higher ratio (ß = 0.27, p<0.01). Discussion: Results suggest that early-life trauma may influence later-life immune health, likely through indirect pathways. These findings could encourage a more holistic approach to health care, considering childhood trauma as a potential precursor to physical illnesses.
