PTSD linked to advanced epigenetic age in 45,091 US military veterans
In 45,091 US Veterans, PTSD diagnosis, severity and duration were associated with age-adjusted epigenetic age measures; the strongest link was PTSD severity with GrimAge residuals, up to about 2 years advanced age. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Participants were 45,091 US Veterans (92.76% male) in the VA Million Veteran Program, and PTSD diagnoses predated the DNA blood draw by at least one year. [1]
PTSD diagnosis, severity and duration were associated with age-adjusted epigenetic age metrics from five algorithms after multiple testing adjustment. [1]
The strongest effect was PTSD severity with GrimAge residuals (up to about 2 years advanced age); effects were generally small and this is an association. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 45,091 US Veterans (92.76% male) in the VA Million Veteran Program
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- August 10, 2026
PTSD and epigenetic age in 45,091 veterans
The study examined whether PTSD is associated with advanced biological age measured in DNA methylation data, an area where earlier results were inconsistent. Participants were 45,091 US Veterans (92.76% male) in the VA's Million Veteran Program, with electronic health record data, self-reported PTSD severity (n = 22,835), and DNA methylation and genotype data. PTSD diagnoses predated the blood draw for DNA by at least one year.
Supporting source [1]
PTSD severity and GrimAge residuals strongest
PTSD diagnosis, severity and duration were associated with age-adjusted epigenetic age metrics ("age residuals") from the Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge and DunedinPACE algorithms after multiple testing adjustment. The strongest and most robust effect was PTSD severity with GrimAge residuals (B = .029, adjusted p = 2.48e-53, up to about 2 years advanced age). Associations were stronger among younger than older Veterans. In stratified analyses, all PTSD variables were associated with all epigenetic age residuals in the European ancestry subgroup (n = 27,578), but only GrimAge and DunedinPACE showed significant associations in African ancestry participants (n = 11,690).
Supporting source [1]
Small effects, association only, abstract scope
The authors concluded that PTSD was associated with advanced epigenetic aging in the largest study to date on this question. Effects were generally small in magnitude, though described as meaningful given the personal and healthcare system impact of advanced aging in the large population of VA users with PTSD. This is an association, not evidence that PTSD causes epigenetic aging. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is an observational association, not causation. The sample was 92.76% male US Veterans, so generalization is limited. Effects were generally small, and subgroup results differed by ancestry.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Wolf EJ, Zhang R, Zhao X, Logue MW, Despard BM, Ma P, Wilkinson M, Serier KN, Maihofer AX, Harrington KM, Gaziano JM, Pereira AC, Miller MW. · europepmc.org · August 10, 2026