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The association between incarceration and housing insecurity and advanced immune age during late life

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  • MacConnachie, Lauren
  • Zhang, Yuan S.
  • Farina, Mateo
  • Gutierrez, Carmen
  • Hoover, Andrew
  • He, Yuelin
  • Aiello, Allison E.
  • Noppert, Grace A.

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that psychosocial stress ages the immune system. Accordingly, immune aging may be an important potential mechanism linking psychosocial stress to aging-related decline and disease. Incarceration and housing insecurity represent severe and complex experiences of a multitude of psychosocial stressors, including discrimination, violence, and poverty. In this study, we investigated the association between incarceration and/or housing insecurity and advanced immune age in adults aged 55 and older. Our sample was derived from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), with n = 7003 individuals with valid housing insecurity data and n = 7523 with valid incarceration data. From 2016 Venous Blood Study data, we assessed immune aging using a comprehensive set of immune markers including inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, s-TNFR1), markers of viral control (CMV IgG antibodies), and ratios of T cell phenotypes (CD8+:CD4+, CD+ Memory: Naïve, CD4+ Memory: Naïve, CD8+ Memory: Naïve ratios). We found that both incarceration and housing insecurity were strongly associated with more advanced immune aging as indicated by increased inflammation, reduced viral control, and reduction in naïve T cells relative to memory T cells. Given that those who experienced incarceration, housing insecurity, and/or are racialized minorities were less likely to be included in this study, our results likely underestimated these associations. Despite these limitations, our study provided strong evidence that experiencing incarceration and/or housing insecurity may accelerate the aging of the immune system.

Suggested Citation

  • MacConnachie, Lauren & Zhang, Yuan S. & Farina, Mateo & Gutierrez, Carmen & Hoover, Andrew & He, Yuelin & Aiello, Allison E. & Noppert, Grace A., 2024. "The association between incarceration and housing insecurity and advanced immune age during late life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:347:y:2024:i:c:s0277953624001424
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116698
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    1. VanHeuvelen, Tom & Han, Xiaowen & VanHeuvelen, Jane, 2025. "The mortality implications of a unionized career," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).

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