Citations 4
Epigenetic age and telomere length correlations in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis
Yang, Jennifer H. , Race, Jonathan , Sumowski, Paige, Jacques, Kayla , Fardad, Soha, Fair, Ashley, Schuette, Allison , Lin, Jue , Yilmaz, Defne , Aaen, Gregory , Abrams, Aaron , Casper, T. Charles , Gorman, Mark , Lotze, Timothy E. , Mar, Soe , Ness, Jayne , Rose, John , Schreiner, Teri , Tillema, Jan-Mendelt , Wheeler, Yolanda , Barcellos, Lisa F. , Hazlett, Allison , Krupp, Lauren , Rensel, Mary R. , Schreiner, Teri , Yang, Jennifer H , Benson, Leslie , Chitnis, Tanuja , Tillema, Jan‐Mendelt , Waldman, Amy , Waubant, Emmanuelle L. , Graves, Jennifer
Multiple Sclerosis Journal | November 6, 2025 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 14 | Pages: 1641-1650
Background: Age is the strongest factor determining disease expression in multiple sclerosis (MS). We previously demonstrated biological age acceleration in pediatric-onset MS (POMS) compared to controls with both epigenetic clocks (DNAm) and telomere length (TL). It is unknown whether these markers report overlapping or distinct aging-related processes. Objectives: To determine the correlation between DNAm and TL aging markers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional case–control study within the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers. We calculated age acceleration residuals for the Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, and GrimAge epigenetic clocks and measured TL from whole blood samples to estimate telomere to somatic DNA ratios (T/S ratio). We employed multivariable analysis of covariance to assess the correlation between DNAm estimates and TL. Results: We analyzed biological ages in 270 participants (125 POMS, mean 15.7 years; 145 controls, mean 15.3 years). There were moderate correlations among the different DNAm clocks, but no correlations between DNAm clocks and TL in pooled analyses. In a stratified analysis, only the control group showed a modest correlation between TL and PhenoAge clock ( r = 0.2, p = 0.06). Conclusions: DNAm did not correlate with TL in this sample of POMS and controls, suggesting that these biomarkers may capture complementary and non-overlapping elements of aging-related biology.
Epigenetic Aging in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis
Goyne, Christopher, Fair, Ashley, Yilmaz, Defne , Race, Jonathan , Schuette, Allison , Caillier, Stacy J. , Aaen, Gregory , Abrams, Aaron , Benson, Leslie , Casper, T. Charles , Gorman, Mark , Lotze, Timothy E. , Mar, Soe , Ness, Jayne , Rose, John W. , Schreiner, Teri , Tillema, Jan-Mendelt , Wheeler, Yolanda , Barcellos, Lisa F. , Aaen, Gregory S , Abrams, Aaron , Benson, Leslie A , Chitnis, Tanuja , Gorman, Mark P , Lotze, Timothy E , Krupp, Lauren , Mar, Soe S , Ness, Jayne M , Rensel, Mary R. , Rodriguez, Moses , Rose, John W , Schreiner, Teri , Tillema, Jan‐Mendelt , Waldman, Amy Tara , Wheeler, Yolanda S , Barcellos, Lisa F , Waubant, Emmanuelle L. , Graves, Jennifer , Rodriguez, Moses , Waldman, Amy , Graves, Jennifer
Neurology | June 3, 2025 | Volume: 104 | Issue: 12 | Pages: No page available
Epigenetic Age is Minimally Correlated with Leukocyte Telomere Length in Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis (P6-1.005)
Race, Jonathan , Sumowski, Paige, Jacques, Kayla , Fardad, Soha, Fair, Ashley, Schuette, Allison , Lin, Jue , Yιlmaz, Defne , Aaen, Gregory , Abrams, Aaron , Casper, Charlie, Gorman, Mark , Lotze, Timothy , Mar, Soe , Ness, Jayne , Rose, John , Schreiner, Teri , Tillema, Jan‐Mendelt , Wheeler, Yolanda , Barcellos, Lisa F. , Yang, Jennifer , Benson, Leslie , Chitnis, Tanuja , Krupp, Lauren , Rensel, Mary R. , Schreiner, Teri , Waldman, Amy , Waubant, Emmanuelle L. , Graves, Jennifer
Neurology | April 7, 2025 | Volume: 104 | Issue: 7_Supplement_1 | Pages: No page available
Patient and family views on research priorities and design of clinical trials and research studies in pediatric multiple sclerosis
O’Donnell, Ellen , Schuette, Allison , Waltz, Michael , Aaen, Gregory , Gorman, Mark , Lotze, Timothy , Mar, Soe , Ness, Jayne , Tillema, Jan‐Mendelt , Schreiner, Teri , Wheeler, Yolanda , Casper, T. Charles , Benson, Leslie, Rodriguez, Moses , Schreiner, Teri , Chitnis, Tanuja
Multiple Sclerosis Journal | September 17, 2024 | Volume: 30 | Issue: 11-12 | Pages: 1525-1543
Background and Objectives: This survey study aimed to (1) identify patient/family research priorities in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS), and (2) delineate optimized methods for research study/clinical trials design, engagement, and implementation. Methods: Participants were as follows: (1) parents of a child (<18 years) with POMS enrolled in a national registry, (2) adolescents (13–17 years) with POMS in the registry, and (3) adults (18–40 years) with POMS receiving care at a registry affiliated clinic. Of 293 eligible participants, 192 completed surveys. Results: Experiences with health care and medications were generally positive but there remain areas of priority improvement. Incentives to participate in clinical trials included medications previously tested and in pill form, bloodwork/study visits required ⩾ every 3 months, cognitive testing ⩽1 hour, compensation for travel and time, ability to continue current multiple sclerosis (MS) medication, option to take study medication if on placebo, and individualized study feedback. Priorities for clinical research were (1) psychosocial impact, (2) cognitive/academic impact, (3) environmental risk, and (4) nutrition. Conclusions: Results highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to study design and a focus on the impact of disease on daily life to best engage patients and families in POMS clinical trials and research.