N-glycosylation profiling of plasma provides evidence for accelerated physiological aging in post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

The prevalence of age-related diseases is increased in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the underlying biological mechanisms are still unclear. N-glycosylation is an age-dependent process, identified as a biomarker for physiological aging (GlycoAge Test). To investigate whether traumatic stress accelerates the aging process, we analyzed the N-glycosylation profile in n=13 individuals with PTSD, n=9 trauma-exposed individuals and in n=10 low-stress control subjects. Individuals with PTSD and trauma-exposed individuals presented an upward shift in the GlycoAge Test, equivalent to an advancement of the aging process by 15 additional years. Trauma-exposed individuals presented an intermediate N-glycosylation profile positioned between severely traumatized individuals with PTSD and low-stress control subjects. In conclusion, our data suggest that cumulative exposure to traumatic stressors accelerates the process of physiological aging.