Hippocampal volume indexes neurobiological sensitivity to the effect of pollution burden on telomere length in adolescents

Abstract

Exposure to environmental pollutants has been associated with cellular aging in children and adolescents. Individuals may vary, however, in their sensitivity or vulnerability to the effects of environmental pollutants. Larger hippocampal volume has emerged as a potential index of increased sensitivity to social contexts. In exploratory analyses (N = 214), we extend work in this area by providing evidence that larger hippocampal volume in early adolescence reflects increased sensitivity to the effect of neighborhood pollution burden on telomere length (standardized β = -0.40, 95% CI[-0.65, -0.15]). In contrast, smaller hippocampal volume appears to buffer this association (standardized β = 0.02). In youth with larger hippocampal volume, pollution burden was indirectly associated with shorter telomere length approximately 2 years later through shorter telomere length at baseline (indirect standardized β = -0.25, 95% CI[-0.40, 0.10]). For these youth, living in high or low pollutionburdened neighborhoods may predispose them to develop shorter or longer telomeres, respectively, later in adolescence.

Neighborhood disadvantage and parenting predict longitudinal clustering of uncinate fasciculus microstructural integrity and clinical symptomatology in adolescents

“…Although we cannot be sure that participants were directly exposed to these factors (see discussion of study limitations, below), they were at least at higher risk for exposure. These factors have been identified in previous work as contributing to risk for health challenges (e.g., Kulla et al, 2023 ; Manczak et al, 2020 ; Miller, Buthmann, et al, 2022 ); few studies, however, have considered these factors simultaneously, in addition to parenting. Although we did not expect to find that participants in a cluster characterized by greater neighborhood disadvantage would be resilient to psychopathology symptoms, we also did not measure neighborhood aspects that can promote adaptability to negative evironments.…”

Biological sensitivity to adolescent-parent discrepancies in perceived parental warmth

“…Biological sensitivity to context theory [ 17 ] posits that elevated activation of stress-related systems indexes a low threshold for the detection of environmental information [ 18 ]. Researchers have considered biological sensitivity to context in understanding individuals’ sensitivity to a wide range of environments, including neighborhood density [ 19 ], pollution [ 20 ], and early life stress [ 21 ], documenting that greater sensitivity is related to more negative outcomes in the context of harsh conditions and to more positive outcomes in the context of favorable conditions.…”

Introduction to the special issue: Environmental contaminants and child and adolescent development

“…The final empirical article in this special issue by Miller et al. (2022) presented findings relevant to the fourth theme from the Trentacosta and Mulligan (2020) article – potential protective factors that might mitigate risks associated with contaminant exposures. In a sample of adolescents from the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Miller and colleagues examined hippocampal volume as a potential neurobiological protective factor that might alter the impacts of neighborhood pollution burden on cellular aging.…”

“…Miller's first recommendation focuses on applying developmentally‐informed conceptual models to CEH science by, for example, applying the biological sensitivity to context approach to identify moderators as JMiller et al. (2022) did in this issue. Miller's second recommendation focuses on applying creative and sophisticated methods by, as one example, incorporating personal exposure monitors into community‐based research.…”