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Research Article: Accelerated Aging and the Life Course of Individuals Born Preterm

Date Published: 2023-10-13

Abstract:
Individuals born preterm have shorter lifespans and elevated rates of chronic illness that contribute to mortality risk when compared to individuals born at term. Emerging evidence suggests that individuals born preterm or of low birthweight also exhibit physiologic and cellular biomarkers of accelerated aging. It is unclear whether, and to what extent, accelerated aging contributes to a higher risk of chronic illness and mortality among individuals born preterm. Here, we review accelerated aging phenotypes in adults born preterm and biological pathways that appear to contribute to accelerated aging. We highlight biomarkers of accelerated aging and various resiliency factors, including both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic factors, that might buffer the propensity for accelerated aging among individuals born preterm.

Introduction:
Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, affects about 15 million (11%) births worldwide each year and is the most frequent cause of infant mortality [1,2,3]. Individuals born preterm have a shorter lifespan than those born at term [4] and higher risks of chronic illness that contribute to mortality risk [5,6,7,8,9]. Such illnesses increase physical and emotional stress [10] and accelerate biological aging [11], resulting in an individual’s biological age exceeding their chronological age…

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