Abstract
Aging exhibits remarkable individual heterogeneity as exemplified by the varying health
trajectories and outcomes experienced by people of the same chronological age. Much of this
variability is due to different live experiences and environments. Understanding the impact of
environmental factors on aging is essential because it holds the key to unlocking strategies for
promoting healthier and more equitable aging experiences for individuals across diverse
backgrounds. The F99 phase of this project explores the interplay between environmental
adversity, epigenetic shifts, and aging, using a cohort of 1,000 dogs from the Dog Aging Project.
The goal is to understand how environmental factors modulate the epigenome, potentially
accelerating aging and influencing health and lifespan. Specifically, I am analyzing associations
between age, sex, weight, and site-specific and global DNA methylation changes, alongside
validating a DNA methylation-based 'epigenetic clock' associated with chronological age, and
assessing whether environmental adversity mirrors molecular aging. At the end of the F99
phase, I will have revealed mechanisms behind environmentally-induced aging in dogs, and
gained training and expertise that will serve as a bridge to the postdoctoral, K00 phase. In the
K00 phase, my research will expand to explore molecular determinants of aging in women, with
an emphasis on understanding how specific environmental adversities impact their aging
processes. Utilizing data from extensive cohort studies like the Study of Women's Health Across
the Nation study (SWAN), a long-term cohort study that investigates the physical, psychological,
and social aspects of women's health during the menopausal transition and beyond, involving a
diverse group of women across different racial and ethnic backgrounds. I aim to uncover how
epigenetics, and gender-specific environmental adversity intertwine to define aging trajectories
in women, with the goal to identify high-risk groups and develop targeted interventions, thereby
ameliorating age-related disparities and enhancing health and longevity in women.