# Longitudinal associations between medication use and phenotypic aging: insights from the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging

## TL;DR

This study explores how medication use is linked to changes in aging-related traits, finding that certain drugs may slow aging processes.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific medications associated with reduced phenotypic aging across multiple biological domains.

## Key findings

- Vitamin D, bisphosphonates, and proton pump inhibitors were linked to slower aging in body composition and energy systems.
- Thiazides showed protective effects across body composition, energy, and internal stability markers of aging.
- Thyroid hormones were associated with reduced aging in body composition and nervous system decline.

## Abstract

Limited population-based data exist on the association between medication use and changes in phenotypic aging. This study investigated these associations using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Phenotypic aging (PA) markers were constructed using the Klemera-Doubal method across four domains: body composition (structural and metabolic changes), energetics (energy generation and utilization capacity), homeostatic mechanisms (internal stability maintenance), and neuroplasticity/neurodegeneration (nervous system function and decline). Associations between 27 common drug categories and changes in these PA markers were analyzed using conditional generalized estimating equations (cGEE), focusing on within-individual variation to control for genetics and early-life factors, with additional adjustments for time-varying covariates.

Five drug categories were associated with significant reductions in PA markers. Vitamin D, bisphosphonates, and proton pump inhibitors were linked to decreases in body composition (Beta = −0.73 years, 95% CI: −1.35 to −0.10), energetics (Beta = −2.05, 95% CI: −3.98 to −0.13), and neuroplasticity/neurodegeneration (Beta = −1.00, 95% CI: −2.02 to −0.03), respectively. Thyroid hormones showed reductions in body composition (Beta = −1.75, 95% CI: −3.24 to −0.26) and neuroplasticity/neurodegeneration (Beta = −1.04, 95% CI: −1.96 to −0.12). Thiazides were associated with decreases across body composition (Beta = −1.55, 95% CI: −2.94 to −0.16), energetics (Beta = −2.36, 95% CI: −4.30 to −0.42), and homeostatic mechanisms (Beta = −3.83, 95% CI: −6.71 to −0.96).

These findings suggest potential protective effects of certain medications on phenotypic aging. Further research is needed to validate these results, particularly with data from other populations.