Brea Perry, Indiana University Bloomington

Presentation Title: Egocentric social networks and epigenetic aging: A comparison of bridging, bonding, and social capital mechanisms in a state representative sample of adults

About the Presentation

This seminar reports on the first-ever analysis of the relationship between personal social network structure and composition and epigenetic aging. Social networks are among the strongest and most robust predictors of age-related morbidity and mortality, but little empirical research identifies specific social or biological mechanisms underlying this association. Here, we measure epigenetic aging using DNA methylation clocks and examine novel associations with three network-based mechanisms: 1) social bridging (i.e., large, socially diverse, loosely-connected networks that provide access to novel information, resources, and institutions); 2) social bonding (i.e., strong tie-centered, homophilous, multiplex networks that offer support, security, and social control); 3) educational social capital (i.e., access to status and socioeconomic resources through networks). To align with prior research, we also examine associations with social isolation (i.e., having few significant relationships). Leveraging data from the Person-to-Person (P2P) Study, a representative, face-to-face survey of Indiana adults over the age of 18 (N=2,302), we examine whether these four network-based mechanisms are associated with DunedinPACE and GrimAge clocks. By identifying distinct social mechanisms, this study reveals how everyday social environments become biologically embedded to influence population health.
 

About the Speaker

Brea Perry is the Allen D. and Polly S. Grimshaw Professor in the Department of Sociology and Associate Director of the Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences Research at Indiana University. Her areas of research include social networks, biosociology, social inequalities, aging, medical sociology, and mental health. Brea was a National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholar (2019-2022) and received the 2025 Leo G. Reeder Award for career contributions to medical sociology from the American Sociological Association. She has received over $20M in grants as principal investigator from NIH, NSF, DoD, and charitable foundations.

Seminar Format

Location IN PERSON: 2208 LeFrak Hall. We are requesting advanced registration so that we can track capacity.  Please use this link to RSVP for in-person attendance.

Location ONLINE VIA ZOOM: Zoom registration link.  Upon registration, you will receive an automatically generated email with the direct link for the seminar

If accommodations are needed, please send request to meeting organizer (mprc-support@umd.edu) at least 72 hours prior to the event, if possible, to allow time to discuss and implement alternatives.

COVID-19 Information

MPRC public events for Spring 2026 will be a mix of in person and online via Zoom.  For in person events, all event attendees must follow current protocols.

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