In a recent study published in the journal Nature Human BehaviorThe researchers evaluated the causal effects of mental well-being on the genetically independent aging phenotype (GIP aging).
Human life expectancy has increased over time; However, an aging population presents challenges for individuals and society. Mental well-being correlates with lifestyle habits and morbidity. Studies have linked mental well-being to physical health and increased survival. Furthermore, socioeconomic status (SES) is interrelated with aging and mental well-being. However, a causal relationship between healthy aging and mental well-being has not yet been established.
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About the study
In the present study, researchers evaluated the effects of mental well-being on aging phenotypes. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study evaluated causal associations between aging phenotypes and mental well-being traits and selected candidate mediators in the relationship between aging GIP and the well-being spectrum. Additionally, the team also explored whether the causal effects were independent of SES.
Summary-level genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were derived from people of European ancestry. Exposures included spectrum well-being, life satisfaction, neuroticism, depressive symptoms, and positive affect. The covariates were three indicators of SES: education, occupation, and income. In total, 106 mediator candidates were identified for selection; Mediators included 23 lifestyle factors, 20 physical function traits, 53 diseases, and 10 behaviors and performances.
Mediators were selected based on a set of criteria: the mediator must have a causal association with GDP aging and a direct causal effect independent of the well-being spectrum; the spectrum of well-being should have a causal association with the mediator (and not the other way around); The association of the mediator with GDP aging and that of the spectrum of well-being with the mediator should go in the same direction.
The results included the GDP of aging and its components (self-rated health, resilience, longevity, life expectancy, and parental life expectancy). Linkage disequilibrium score regression was performed to examine genetic correlations between mental well-being traits, aging phenotypes, and SES indicators. Univariate MR (UVMR) analysis evaluated the causal effect of mediators and mental well-being traits on aging phenotypes.
UVMR and multivariate MR (MVMR) analyzes were performed to investigate the causal effects of SES indicators on mental well-being traits. The MVMR analysis, adjusted for SES indicators, examined the direct impact of the well-being spectrum on aging phenotypes. A two-step MRI analysis tested the mediating effects between the well-being spectrum and GDP aging.
recommendations
Genetic correlations were observed between all mental well-being traits and GDP of aging and its components, except longevity. The well-being spectrum was associated with higher aged GDP. Consistently, the well-being spectrum showed positive causal associations with resilience, life expectancy, parental life expectancy, and self-rated health.
Positive affect and life satisfaction were positively associated with these aging phenotypes, while depressive symptoms and neuroticism were inversely associated. SES indicators and well-being traits were also correlated. Higher income, education, and occupation were causally associated with better mental well-being. The well-being spectrum was independently associated with higher aged GDP, adjusted for SES indicators.
Of the 106 mediator candidates, 33 met the selection criteria and were included. Lifestyle factors, physical functions, unhealthy behaviors and actions were associated with lower GDP in aging. Later age at smoking initiation and higher cheese consumption, appendicular lean mass (ALM), cognitive performance, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fresh fruit consumption were associated with higher GIP in the aging.
Heart failure, hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease had the largest effects on aging GDP. Antihypertensive medication, age of smoking initiation, and television viewing time individually mediated at least 7% of the effect of the well-being spectrum on aging GDP. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, waist-to-hip ratio, fresh fruit intake, ALM, HDL-C, triglycerides, and age at menarche individually mediated up to 4.81% of the total effect.
Conclusions
In summary, the study illustrated the causal effects of mental well-being on aging phenotypes regardless of SES. Better mental well-being was associated with better GDP in aging. The causal effect was partly explained by 33 mediators, including lifestyles, physical functions, diseases, and behaviors and performances. Overall, the results highlight the need to prioritize mental well-being for healthy aging.
