# Sensory impairments and epigenetic aging: insights from self-rated hearing and vision in United States adults

## TL;DR

This study finds that self-reported hearing loss is linked to faster biological aging, as measured by specific DNA methylation biomarkers, in U.S. adults.

## Contribution

The study is the first to show a link between self-rated hearing impairment and accelerated epigenetic aging using multiple biomarkers.

## Key findings

- Self-reported deafness was associated with higher GrimAge2 and DunedinPoAm scores, indicating accelerated biological aging.
- Deafness was also linked to higher levels of TIMP1, ADM, CRP, and cigarette pack-years in GrimAge2 estimates.
- No significant associations were found between self-rated vision and epigenetic aging biomarkers.

## Abstract

Sensory impairments are common with aging, but studies examining the relationships of these impairments with DNA methylation–based biomarkers of aging, strong predictors of morbidity and mortality, remain sparse. We investigated whether subjective measures of sensory impairment are associated with epigenetic age biomarkers. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in a representative sample of 2344 U.S. adults from the 1999–2000 and 2001–2002 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We examined the relationships of self-rated auditory and vision function with seven epigenetic aging biomarkers: HannumAge, HorvathAge, SkinBloodAge, PhenoAge, GrimAge2, DNA methylation telomere length, and DunedinPoAm. We adjusted for potential confounders including chronological age, other demographics, lifestyle factors, and general health. In adjusted survey-weighted models, self-reported deafness was associated with a significantly higher GrimAge2 (β = 4.19-years, 95% CI 2.29, 6.09, P = 0.004) and DunedinPoAm (β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.04, 0.09, P = 0.002) compared to good hearing. Deafness was also associated with significantly higher GrimAge2 estimates of TIMP1 (β = 459.51, 95% CI 287.00, 632.03 P = 0.002) and marginally higher estimated levels of ADM (β = 10.06, 95% CI 1.76, 18.36, P = 0.03), CRP (β = 0.34, 95% CI 0.11, 0.56, P = 0.01), and cigarette pack-years (β = 6.55, 95% CI 2.62, 10.47, P = 0.01). No associations were observed with self-rated vision. We describe associations of self-rated deafness with accelerated epigenetic aging, as measured by GrimAge2 and DunedinPoAm. These results provide a foundation for future research exploring epigenetic biomarkers as tools for predicting and understanding the biological processes underlying sensory impairments like deafness.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11357-025-01706-6.