MRA Family (P1)Family relationships as health-promoting factors in old age
Investigating markers of biological aging and immune functioning in dyadic data from a large cohort of older adults
Intimate social relationships have a positive impact on individual health and longevity. This effect is believed to be mediated through epigenetic changes in stress-sensitive endocrine and immune mechanisms, which are relevant for a wide range of diseases.
The planned project represents a collaborative effort involving groups from Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital, Network Aging Research, and DKFZ. It aims to conduct epigenome-wide analyses using existing dyadic data. The focus of the analysis will be on identifying aging- and immune-related epigenetic changes in individuals and couples from the ESTHER cohort.
By analyzing pre-existing cohort data, this study will explore the novel hypothesis of dyadic co-regulation of epigenetic signatures. Specifically, it will investigate couples who are not genetically related but share similar lifestyles.
This collaborative project seeks to investigate the impact of care relationships in old age on age-related processes and diseases. It involves the participation of various disciplines at our university, including medical psychology, psychology of aging, geriatric medicine, epidemiology, and theology.