Examining the causal genetic effects of substance use on aging

medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Oct 15:2024.10.14.24315472. doi: 10.1101/2024.10.14.24315472.

Abstract

Substance use shortens lifespan, impedes health, and accelerates the biological aging process. We found widespread genetic correlations between alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and opioid use and use disorders with indices of aging across the lifespan. There was evidence of tobacco and alcohol use and use disorders causally impacting physical, cognitive, and biological aging, with the effects of alcohol being more dependent on quantity of consumption; evidence of reverse causality was scant.

Publication types

  • Preprint