Sex Differences in Associations Between Adversity and Biological Ageing.

Childhood adversity was associated with multiple biological ageing markers primarily in females.

• Sample comprised 153,557 UK Biobank participants aged 40-69 years.
• Childhood adversity was associated with a metabolite-predicted age exceeding chronological age in females.
• Childhood adversity was also associated with greater frailty, shorter telomeres, and weaker grip strength in females.
• These associations were not equally observed in males, indicating sex-specific vulnerability.

Adulthood adversity was more strongly associated with certain ageing markers in males, particularly greater frailty and weaker grip strength.

• The association between adulthood adversity and biological ageing markers was stronger in males than in females for frailty and grip strength.
• This contrasts with the pattern seen for childhood adversity, where females showed stronger associations.
• Statistically significant sex-by-adversity interactions were observed for frailty and grip strength.

Statistically significant sex-by-adversity interactions were found for frailty and grip strength.

• Sex-by-adversity interaction tests were used to formally evaluate sex differences in the associations.
• Interactions were significant for frailty and grip strength specifically.
• The divergence in sex-specific associations between childhood and adulthood exposure was consistent across several markers.

Adversity exposure was highly prevalent in this population-based sample, with females reporting slightly higher rates than males.

• 64.6% of males reported exposure to adversity in childhood and/or adulthood.
• 69.6% of females reported exposure to adversity in childhood and/or adulthood.
• Adversity was assessed across both childhood and adulthood periods.

The timing of adversity, distinguishing childhood from adulthood exposure, shaped whether females or males showed stronger associations with biological ageing markers.

• Four biological ageing markers were assessed: metabolomic ageing (metabolite-predicted age), frailty, telomere length, and grip strength.
• The study used stratified analyses by sex as well as formal sex-by-adversity interaction tests.
• Findings suggest sex differences in biological ageing profiles may partly reflect distinct sensitive periods of vulnerability.
• The authors highlight the importance of considering both sex and timing of adversity exposure when examining links to biological ageing.