Citation

Noppert, Grace A.; Stebbins, Rebecca C.; Dowd, Jennifer Beam; Hummer, Robert A.; & Aiello, Allison E. (2021). Life Course Socioeconomic Disadvantage and the Aging Immune System: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 76(6), 1195-1205. PMCID: PMC8200359

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Previous research has documented a consistent association between current socioeconomic status (SES) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Early life is likely a critical period for CMV exposure and immune development, but less is known about early life socioeconomic factors and CMV, particularly in older age populations. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we investigated the association between life course socioeconomic disadvantage and immune response to CMV among older adults.
METHODS: Using ordered logit models, we estimated associations between several measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and the odds of being in a higher CMV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response category in a sample of 8,168 respondents aged 50+ years.
RESULTS: We found a significant association between educational attainment and CMV IgG response. Those with less than a high school education had 2.00 (95% CI: 1.67, 2.40) times the odds of being in a higher CMV category compared to those with a college degree or greater. In addition, we also observed a significant association with parental education and CMV response. Individuals with parents having 8 years or less of schooling had 2.32 (95% CI: 2.00, 2.70) times the odds of higher CMV response compared to those whose parents had greater than a high school education.
CONCLUSION: CMV IgG levels in older adults are associated with both early life and adult SES. Life course socioeconomic disadvantage may contribute to disparities in immunological aging.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa144

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2021

Journal Title

Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

Author(s)

Noppert, Grace A.
Stebbins, Rebecca C.
Dowd, Jennifer Beam
Hummer, Robert A.
Aiello, Allison E.

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC8200359

Data Set/Study

Health and Retirement Study (HRS)

Continent/Country

United States of America

State

Nonspecific

ORCiD

Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537
Hummer - 0000-0003-3058-6383
Noppert - 0000-0002-2040-960x