Michigan State University Researchers Investigate Epigenetic Aging in Black Pregnant Women
Researchers at Michigan State University, led by Dr. Dawn Misra and Dr. Carmen Giurgescu, are conducting a study on the epigenetic aging of Black pregnant women. This research aims to understand if social stressors contribute to accelerated epigenetic aging, which could serve as a biomarker for the risk of preterm birth. The study, funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), involves a cohort of 550 Black pregnant women from metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, and Columbus, Ohio. The project utilizes questionnaire data, biological samples, and maternal medical records to achieve its objectives. Specifically, the researchers are investigating whether social stressors are linked to an accelerated rDNAm clock among these women, if women experiencing preterm birth exhibit a faster rDNAm clock compared to those with term birth, and how the performance of the rDNAm associated with preterm birth compares to other epigenetic aging metrics.
