Childhood adverse life events and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function

Duchowny, K.A., Marcinek, D.J., Mau, T., Diaz-Ramierez, L.G., Lui, L.Y., Toledo, F.G.S., Cawthon, P.M., Hepple, R.T., Kramer, P.A., Newman, A.B., Kritchevsky, S.B., Cummings, S.R., Coen, P.M., & Molina, A.J.A. Science Advances.

Abstract

Social stress experienced in childhood is associated with adverse health later in life. Mitochondrial function has been implicated as a mechanism for how stressful life events "get under the skin" to influence physical well-being.

Using data from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (n = 879, 59% women), linear models examined whether adverse childhood events (i.e., physical abuse) were associated with two measures of skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics in older adults: (i) maximal adenosine triphosphate production (ATPmax) and (ii) maximal state 3 respiration (Max OXPHOS). Forty-five percent of the sample reported experiencing one or more adverse childhood events. After adjustment, each additional event was associated with -0.08 SD (95% confidence interval = -0.13, -0.02) lower ATPmax. No association was observed with Max OXPHOS. Adverse childhood events are associated with lower ATP production in later life.

Findings indicate that mitochondrial function may be a mechanism for understanding how early social stress influences health in later life.