Add Health Attending the GSA 2023 Conference

Add Health will be attending the Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) annual meeting this week on November 8-11, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Learn how the health of this aging cohort is impacted by various factors such as social, economic, and environmental conditions over the life-course as well as recently added cognitive measures to the current wave of data collection. Visit the Add Health booth #211 during exhibit hours to speak with AH staff and learn about our incredible data.

For more information on this year’s meeting, visit the GSA website.

Long-Term Pollution Exposure Linked to Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health in Young Adults

Air pollution is a global environmental challenge that continues to pose significant threats to human health. While the harmful effects of air pollution on respiratory health are well documented, emerging research now highlights its profound impact on cardiovascular health as well. A recent study, drawing upon data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and the Fused Air Quality Surface using Downscaling (FAQSD) archive, sheds light on the long-term consequences of air pollution exposure on the cardiovascular and metabolic health of young adults between the ages of 24 and 34.

Mercedes A. Bravo et al. analyzed multi-year estimates of exposure to ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5µm or less (PM2.5) for Add Health participants to determine the associations between these air pollution exposures and various biomarkers of cardiometabolic health including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, C-reactive protein, and metabolic syndrome. The study considered data from 2002 to 2007, aligning these exposures with measurements taken at Wave IV of the Add Health study in 2008 to 2009 and included adjustments for age, race/ethnicity, and sex. The findings suggest that young adults exposed to elevated levels of O3 and PM2.5 are at a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular issues like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes as well as metabolic syndrome. The study also observed race/ethnicity differences in the exposure to PM2.5 and O3, with Non-Hispanic Black participants having the highest exposure to both O3 and PM2.5

The longitudinal design of the Add Health data from Wave I to V allows researchers to develop a clearer picture of how health throughout the life course is affected by demographics, social and familial environments, behavior, biomarkers, anthropometric measures, and genetics.

Mercedes A. Bravo, PhD

Fang Fang, PhD

Dana B. Hancock, PhD

Eric O. Johnson, PhD

Kathleen Mullan Harris, PhD

Bravo, Mercedes A.; Fang, Fang; Hancock, Dana B.; Johnson, Eric O.; & Mullan Harris, Kathleen (2023). Long-term air pollution exposure and markers of cardiometabolic health in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) Study. Environment International.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.107987

Add Health Attending IAPHS Conference

Multi-ethnic audience sitting in a row and making notes while listening to presentation at conference hall

Add Health is excited to attend the 2023 IAPHS Conference, “Gender, Sexuality, and Health Across the Life Course: Current Challenges and Opportunities for Population Health and Health Equity,” from Monday, October 2, 2023, to Thursday, October 5, 2023. Staff members will be at the Add Health booth in the Exhibit Hall daily to answer your questions. For more information, visit the IAPHS conference website.

IAPHS Conference posters and presentations using AH data

New Data Release

The following data are now available to Add Health contract researchers.

All Coded Causes of Death File, Including Entity-Axis Codes, 2021

This file contains all underlying cause of death and entity-axis codes appearing in the National Death Index (NDI) source file through 2021. Functioning as dummy variables, zero represents the absence of a code on the decedent’s death certificate, while one denotes the presence of one. N=647

All Coded Causes of Death File, Including Record-Axis Codes, 2021

This file contains all underlying cause of death and record-axis codes appearing in the National Death Index (NDI) source file through 2021. Functioning as dummy variables, zero represents the absence of a code on the decedent’s death certificate, while one denotes the presence of one. N=647

Individual Vital Status and Underlying Cause of Death File, 2021

This file contains one record for each of the 20,745 Add Health sample members from Wave I. It provides the vital status of each sample member through 2021 as well as the National Death Index-provided underlying cause of death code in ICD-10 format for each decedent. The month and year of the most recent Add Health interview are provided for living sample members, while the month and year of death are provided for decedents. N=20,745

Ordered Cause of Death File, 2021

This file contains entity- and record-axis codes reported by the National Death Index (NDI) for each decedent in the Add Health sample through 2021. The file is arranged hierarchically, by axis code; therefore, each decedent may have multiple records depending on the maximum number of entity- and record-axis codes recorded by NDI. The sequence of the decedent’s records reflects the order in which the entity- and record-axis codes were reported in the NDI record. N=2,123

Current Add Health investigators can log in to the CPC Data Portal and use the “Request More Data” button to order this dataset.

For more information on the CPC Data Portal, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Add Health attending SER 2023 in Portland, OR.

Add Health is excited to be attending the Society for Epidemiological Research 2023 Conference in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, June 13th to Friday, June 16th.  Come by the exhibit hall where Add Health staff with be at booth #4 and be sure to check out the following posters using Add Health Data:

Poster Session 1, Health Disparities

Tuesday, June 13, Exhibit Hall

7:30 PM to 8:30PM

P-596. Comparing lifetime polyvictimization and mental health outcomes in women with vs without incarceration histories: A population based latent class analysis Sandra P. Arevalo, PhD* [57496] Arevalo Qianwei Zhao

Purpose: This study uses data from the Add Health, a national and longitudinal survey, to identify women with (n = 418) and with no incarceration histories (n = 5,099) to compare lifetime trauma exposure and risk for distal mental health and substance use outcomes in women with vs. without incarceration histories. Method: With a detailed list of traumas that captures the category (e.g., sexual, physical, psychological), the perpetrator (parent, partner, other), and timing (e.g., childhood, adolescence, adulthood) of the exposure, we used Latent Class Analysis to identify distinct groups of polytrauma exposure in the two groups of women. Multivariate logistic regressions examine the association between class membership and mental health (depressive symptomatology, PTSD, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt), and substance misuse (alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug misuses) outcomes, after adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: we identify a unique pattern of trauma exposure characterized by high exposure to multiple types of childhood abuse that persisted during the preschool and middle childhood years in the group of women with incarceration histories. Different groups of polytrauma exposure were associated with distinctive mental health and substance misuse outcomes among women with incarceration histories, but not in women without incarceration histories. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the common prevalence of polyvictimization exposure in both women with and without histories of incarceration; and point to distinct patterns created by the type, frequency, and timing of the trauma exposure, and their distinct associations to distal psychological health outcomes, and possibly criminal justice involvement.

Poster Session 1, Neurology

Tuesday, June 13, Exhibit Hall

7:30 PM to 8:30 PM

P-959. Evaluating Pathways between Dementia Risk Factors, Biomarkers of AD/ADRD, and Cognitive Function in Young Adulthood. Jennifer Momkus* [57496] Aiello Jennifer Momkus Rebecca Stebbins Yuan Zhang Y. Claire Yang Kathleen Mullan Harris

Background: The Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) risk score has shown significant predictive value for AD and cognitive impairment in older age populations. Yet, it is increasingly recognized that neuropathology and cognitive decline begin much earlier, including during young adulthood. Thus, there is a need to examine the utility of risk scores for AD in younger adult populations. We tested the association of the CAIDE score in predicting cognitive function in young adults and assessed whether the score was associated with biomarkers of AD/ADRD risk in young adulthood. Methods: Participants were from Wave IV (ages 24-34) and Wave V (ages 33-44) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The CAIDE score was constructed based on survey and physical exam data using age, educational attainment, sex, systolic blood pressure, BMI, total cholesterol, and physical activity. Measures of word recall and digit span backwards tasks were used to assess cognitive function. We used survey-weighted linear regression to estimate the associations between CAIDE score and (1) cognitive function (2) biomarkers of inflammation and neurological damage at each wave (including C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin (IL)-6, total Tau, Neurofilament light, among others), adjusting for race/ethnicity and early life socioeconomic status (SES). Results: A higher CAIDE score at Wave IV was associated with lower cognitive function at Wave IV and Wave V (see Figure 1). A higher CAIDE score was also associated with higher levels of CRP and IL-6 in both waves. Neither the Wave IV nor Wave V CAIDE score predicted markers of neurodegeneration. Conclusions: Even in early adulthood, known dementia risk factors were associated with cognitive function. Chronic inflammation may play a role in this relationship. Intervention earlier in the life course may be especially effective for prevention of AD/ADRD.

Poster Session 2, Cardiovascular

Wednesday, June 14, Exhibit Hall

6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

P- 244. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Hypertension Risk in Adulthood: Results from Wave V of the Add Health Study. Fahad Mansuri* [57496] Mansuri Megan C. Barry Jill Desch Dieu Tran Skai Schwartz Chighaf Bakour

Background and objective: The impact of the clustering of multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on hypertension in adulthood has not been adequately explored. We examined the association of ACEs with hypertension and assessed sex and race as effect modifiers using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Methods: We used data from Waves I, III, IV, and V of the Add Health study. An ACE score (range: 0-9) variable indicating the total number of ACEs experienced out of the nine ACEs (physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; neglect; parental incarceration, alcoholism, divorce/separation; foster home placement; and exposure to community violence) was created and split into five categories of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more ACEs. Hypertension was defined as: SBP≥130 mm/Hg and/or DBP≥90 mm/Hg; taking an antihypertensive medication; and/or self-reported diagnosis of hypertension. The association between ACE score and hypertension was examined using multivariable regression analysis. Interaction terms for race and sex were included in models to examine the effect modification and the models were adjusted for participant’s sex; race; age, household income, and parental education at Wave I. Results: The final sample included 5,157 participants with a mean age of 15 years at Wave I and 37 at Wave V. About 50% of the participants were female and 17% of the participants were African American. The risk of hypertension (Wave V) in participants with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more ACEs was 37.6%, 39.3%, 44.8%, 42.7% and 41.1% respectively. The adjusted RR (95% CI) of hypertension in the participants with 1, 2, 3, 4 or more ACEs (vs. 0 ACE) was 1.0 (0.9, 1.2), 1.1 (0.9, 1.3), 1.1 (0.9, 1.3), and 0.9 (0.8, 1.2) respectively. Likewise, the adjusted RD (95% CI) of hypertension in the participants with 1, 2, 3, 4 or more ACEs (vs. 0 ACE) was -0.05 (-5.2, 5.1), 4.4 (-1.7, 10.4), 2.8 (-4.8, 10.4), and -1.52 (-9.4, 6.4) respectively. There was no evidence of interaction of sex and race with ACEs score on the multiplicative or additive scales. Conclusion: Using data from the Add Health study, we found that experiencing higher number of ACEs was not associated higher risk of hypertension in adulthood. We also found no evidence of effect modification of the association between ACEs and hypertension by sex or race.

Poster Session 2, Perinatal & Pediatric

Wednesday June 14, Exhibit Hall

6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

P- 1096. Upward mobility is associated with preterm birth but not low birthweight. Julia M Porth* [57496] Porth Bobby K Cheon

Background: Changes in socioeconomic status (SES) between adolescence and adulthood, termed SES mobility, may influence perinatal health via changes in resources available to engage in healthy behaviors, stress, and psychological strain due to changing status. This analysis examined relationships between SES mobility and women’s experiences of delivering a child who is preterm (PTB) or has a low birthweight (LBW). Methods: Data came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. SES was defined as a combination of education, occupation, and income, assessed among parents (when participants were aged 12-19) and later in adult participants (aged 24-32). SES mobility was the difference between parent and adult SES quintile, categorized as short-range (adult SES 1 quintile higher/lower than parent SES) and long-range (adult SES 2-4 quintiles higher/lower than parent SES). Those who did not experience SES mobility were categorized as having high SES immobility or low SES immobility. Relationships were assessed using logistic regressions accounting for complex survey design and clustering of births by mother. Results: Samples included 1,041 births from 672 mothers (PTB) and 1,013 births from 655 mothers (LBW). Compared to high SES immobility, upward mobility was associated with higher odds of PTB (OR: 2.77 [95% CI: 1.26, 6.08]), results which seem to be largely driven by short-range upward mobility (OR: 2.78 [1.28, 6.03]). Odds of PTB were higher among downwardly mobile participants though the 95% CI contained the null (OR: 1.82 [0.82, 4.03]). Neither upward nor downward mobility were associated with odds of LBW. Conclusions: Contrary to previous studies using more geographically restricted samples, results of the present study suggest upward mobility may be associated with increased odds of PTB. Future research should seek to clarify specific groups in which upward SES mobility can be harmful to perinatal health.

New Data Release

The following data are now available to Add Health contract researchers. 

Polygenic Index Inventories – Release 2
This data file is a 2022 update of the polygenic scores computed by the SSGAC consortium for anthropometric traits, cognition/education, fertility/sexual development, health/health behaviors, and personality/well being. N=5,689 Current Add Health investigators can log in to the CPC Data Portal and use the “Request More Data” button to order this dataset. 

For more information on the CPC Data Portal, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page

Add Health Director, Dr. Robert Hummer, elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Robert Hummer, a Howard W. Odum Distinguished Professor of Sociology and fellow at the Carolina Population Center, teaches a course on how to integrate the social and biological sciences

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday, April 19th, the newest members of its prestigious academy.

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an honorary society that recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals in academia, the arts, business, government and public affairs. The academy, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was founded to recognize accomplished individuals and engage them in advancing the public good. The organization’s work is wide-ranging and multidisciplinary, with current areas of focus that include arts and humanities, democracy and justice, education, energy and environment, global affairs, and science and technology.

Dr. Hummer is the Howard W. Odum Distinguished Professor of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a demographer whose research centers on health and mortality disparities across population groups in the United States. Hummer is also a fellow of the Carolina Population Center and director of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Add Health is the largest, most comprehensive nationally representative and longitudinal study of the health of adolescents who have now aged into adulthood ever conducted in the United States. In March 2021, Add Health received two major awards from the National Institute on Aging worth an expected $38.2 million over five years to enable the project to follow the original adolescent cohort into their 40s.

To read the full announcement, visit the American Academy of the Arts & Sciences website.

For other news from the UNC College of Arts and Sciences click here.

New Data Release from Add Health

School buses on road

Wave I & II School District Grouping Data

To facilitate clustering by school district, the school district identifiers comprising this file are based on the Local education agency identification numbers (LEAID) of the school districts in which the Wave I school, Wave I residence, and Wave II residence were situated. The first two characters of this LEAID represent state and reflect state codes assigned by Add Health in other disseminated data similarly intended for clustering at different geographic areas. N=84,166

This datafile has additional requirements for access, please read the requirements carefully before requesting. The requirements are listed on the CPC Data Portal.

Current Add Health investigators can log in to the CPC Data Portal and use the “Request More Data” button to order this dataset.

For more information on the CPC Data Portal, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Panel: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) an Introduction to Analysis of Innovative and Sensitive Information within a Secured Computing Environment

Add Health Director, Dr. Robert Hummer, will participate in the Center For Studies in Demography & Ecology (CSDE) Seminar series on Friday, March 3rd at 12:30 PM PT.

In addition to Dr. Hummer, this expert panel includes Professor Luciana (Lucy) Hebert (WSU) and Dr. Phil Hurvitz (CSDE), who will introduce the Add Health Data and the fascinating, exciting and innovative data that are available when you can access the secure data files housed within the CSDE’s UW Data Collaborative. For over 25 years, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) project has provided the scientific community with innovative data to understand the health and social life of a nationally representative cohort of Americans who were in grades 7-12 in 1994-95. The data now include five waves of data, social network and biomarker information, parental data, mental health information and more. The panel will introduce the Add Health data, including a discussion of which data sets are available, how to search for variables users may be interested in the different data sets, and how to access the data, particularly within the UW Data Collaborative (https://dcollab.uw.edu/data/add-health/). Examples of research results will also be presented.

To register, visit the CSDE Seminar Series website.

Add Health