Cross-sectional associations of proteomic age acceleration with self-reported physical and mental health and depression symptoms among those with and without cancer

J Cancer Surviv. 2025 Apr 30. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01803-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Accelerated aging may affect quality of life (QOL), and having cancer may further complicate that relationship. We assessed the cross-sectional association of a novel proteomic aging clock (PAC) with self-reported physical and mental health and depression symptoms among individuals with and without cancer.

METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional analysis came from the prospective Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. We estimated proteomic age acceleration (PAA), i.e., the deviation of PAC from chronological age, at two ARIC visits (1990-1992 and 2011-2013). We used linear regression models to estimate the association of PAA and change in PAA with self-reported physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS) as well as depression symptoms, separately for cancer survivors and individuals without cancer.

RESULTS: Among cancer survivors, mean PCS, MCS, and depression scores were 44.0, 54.8, and 6.7, respectively; and 46.6, 55.3, and 6.5 among those without a cancer history. PAA was associated with lower PCS (adjusted coefficients per additional 5 years; cancer survivors, – 1.73, 95% CI – 3.11, – 0.35; without a cancer history, – 2.70, 95% CI – 3.90, – 1.51) and with higher depression scores among those without a cancer history (0.57, 95% CI 0.27, 0.88). Neither PAA nor change in PAA was associated with MCS in either population.

CONCLUSION: We found some evidence for a cross-sectional association of PAA with self-reported physical health, but little evidence for an association with mental health and depression scores.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: PAA may have stronger implications for physical than for mental health outcomes among those with and without cancer.

PMID:40304866 | DOI:10.1007/s11764-025-01803-7