Social Capital Associates with Cognitive Health, Oral Health and Epigenetic Age Deceleration: A Cross-sectional Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to quantify the association of social capital, defined as social relationships and networks, with cognitive health, oral inflammation, and epigenetic aging. Methods: We used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) (n=1,479; ages 45-85 years), categorizing social capital as structural and cognitive capital. Oral inflammation was determined as the presence of gum bleeding. Epigenetic aging was computed as the difference between chronological age and DNA methylation age. Multivariable regression models adjusted for covariates were used. Results: Higher structural social capital was associated with decelerated epigenetic aging and better cognitive health outcomes. Higher cognitive social capital was also associated with better cognitive outcomes and less oral inflammation. Conclusion: Tackling the social determinants of health can enhance clinical and biological outcomes around aging. Key words: aging, cognitive health, oral health, inflammation, epigenetic clock, social determinants of health, CLSA