Life-Course Persistent Antisocial Behavior and Accelerated Biological Aging in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort

Abstract

Prior research shows that individuals who have exhibited antisocial behavior are in poorer health than their same-aged peers. A major driver of poor health is aging itself, yet research has not investigated relationships between offending trajectories and biological aging. We tested the hypothesis that individuals following a life-course persistent (LCP) antisocial trajectory show accelerated aging in midlife. Trajectories of antisocial behavior from age 7 to 26 years were studied in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a population-representative birth cohort (N = 1037). Signs of aging were assessed at age 45 years using previously validated measures including biomarkers, clinical tests, and self-reports. First, we tested whether the association between antisocial behavior trajectories and midlife signs of faster aging represented a decline from initial childhood health. We then tested whether decline was attributable to tobacco smoking, antipsychotic medication use, debilitating illnesses in adulthood, adverse exposures in childhood (maltreatment, socioeconomic disadvantage) and adulthood (incarceration), and to childhood self-control difficulties. Study members with a history of antisocial behavior had a significantly faster pace of biological aging by midlife, and this was most evident among individuals following the LCP trajectory (β, 0.22, 95%CI, 0.14, 0.28, p ≤ 0.001). This amounted to 4.3 extra years of biological aging between ages 25–45 years for Study members following the LCP trajectory compared to low-antisocial trajectory individuals. LCP offenders also experienced more midlife difficulties with hearing (β, −0.14, 95%CI, −0.21, −0.08, p ≤ 0.001), balance (β, −0.13, 95%CI, −0.18, −0.06, p ≤ 0.001), gait speed (β, −0.18, 95%CI, −0.24, −0.10, p ≤ 0.001), and cognitive functioning (β, −0.25, 95%CI, −0.31, −0.18, p ≤ 0.001). Associations represented a decline from childhood health. Associations persisted after controlling individually for tobacco smoking, antipsychotic medication use, midlife illnesses, maltreatment, socioeconomic status, incarceration, and childhood self-control difficulties. However, the cumulative effect of these lifestyle characteristics together explained why LCP offenders have a faster Pace of Aging than their peers. While older adults typically age-out of crime, LCP offenders will likely age-into the healthcare system earlier than their chronologically same-aged peers. Preventing young people from offending is likely to have substantial benefits for health, and people engaging in a LCP trajectory of antisocial behaviors might be the most in need of health promotion programs. We offer prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the financial burden of offenders on healthcare systems and improve their wellbeing.

Influencing Factors of Healthy Aging Risk Assessed Using Biomarkers: A Life Course Perspective

“…A subsequent follow-up study reported a significant increase in cardiovascular disease in individuals with lifelong severe trauma ( 43 ). Furthermore, middle-aged individuals with a history of antisocial behavior displayed an accelerated rate of biological aging ( 44 ), as shown in Supplementary Table S1.…”

“…The factors influencing the risk of healthy aging mentioned earlier are not only relevant to specific stages of the life course, but they persist throughout the entire lifespan and impact the risk of healthy aging as well (32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44). Among these, SES, educational level, and adversity are particularly influential, with SES's impact varying across variables like ethnicity.…”

“…In a cross-sectional study of 6,224 middle-aged and elderly Chinese participants, Cao et al (42) found that trauma and adversity during childhood and adulthood are associated with accelerated aging, as determined by phenotypic age and frailty index. A subsequent followup study reported a significant increase in cardiovascular disease in individuals with lifelong severe trauma (43). Furthermore, middle-aged individuals with a history of antisocial behavior displayed an accelerated rate of biological aging (44), as shown in Supplementary Table S1.…”

Functional family therapy for adolescent disruptive behavior in Norway: Results from a randomized controlled trial.

“…Adolescent disruptive behavior is linked to serious negative long-term consequences and life outcomes for the youths themselves (Colman et al, 2009; Langevin et al, 2022) and to costs for society (Caspi et al, 2016). Although the importance of intervening during this crucial period is well known, treatments that have documented effects for adolescents exhibiting disruptive problem behavior are still in short supply (McCart et al, 2023).…”