Accelerated biological age in early pregnancy and later preeclampsia risk
In two pregnancy cohorts, accelerated biological aging measured by Hannum's epigenetic clock in early-pregnancy blood was identified as a predictor of preeclampsia; this is an association, not proof of cause. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The source says early-pregnancy preeclampsia risk cannot currently be predicted well, a major limitation in prenatal care. [1]
Biological aging was estimated from DNA methylation in blood collected in early pregnancy using Hannum, Horvath and PhenoAge clocks. [1]
In both cohorts, accelerated biological aging by Hannum's clock was identified as a predictor of preeclampsia. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a prospective cohort study with a second public-data cohort and machine-learning prediction models.
- Population / context
- Pregnant women in an upper Midwest cohort and in the PEPP3 cohort.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 10, 2026
Predicting preeclampsia in early pregnancy
The source states that the inability to predict preeclampsia risk in early pregnancy is a major limitation in prenatal care. The researchers therefore looked for early-pregnancy features that distinguish women who later develop preeclampsia from those with normotensive pregnancies, with particular attention to maternal biological age.
Supporting source [1]
Two cohorts, blood methylation and machine learning
Data came from a prospective cohort of pregnant women in the upper Midwest and from a cohort using publicly available data from the Prenatal Exposures & Preeclampsia Prevention Project (PEPP3). In both, DNA methylation was measured in blood samples collected in early pregnancy, and biological aging was estimated with established epigenetic clocks (Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge). Maternal data across pregnancy came from medical records. Predictors were selected with LASSO regression and Random Forest, and predictive capacity was assessed with logistic regression models using leave-one-out cross-validation.
Supporting source [1]
Hannum clock predicted preeclampsia in both cohorts
In the Midwest cohort, accelerated biological aging by Hannum's clock, higher chronological age and higher gestational weight gain were important predictors of preeclampsia, but only Hannum's clock showed predictive power. In PEPP3, accelerated biological aging by Hannum's clock and chronological age were also significant predictors. The authors suggest accelerated biological aging in early pregnancy may be a risk biomarker for clinical care.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The design is a prospective cohort plus a second cohort using public data, with cross-validated predictive models. Findings are associations and predictive signals, not evidence that biological aging causes preeclampsia.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Anderson CM, Lesniak J, Gillespie SL, Ohm JE, Joseph JJ, Helsabeck NP, Lin S. · europepmc.org · August 10, 2026