Human Biology Association 50th Anniversary Virtual Poster Session

Epigenetic clocks estimate biological aging based on patterns of methylation within the genome. Epigenetic clocks have been shown to be accelerated, reflecting faster aging, by a range of unhealthy exposures or lifestyle factors and to prospectively predict higher risk for all cause mortality. Here we explore relationships between a suite of epigenetic clocks and diurnal rhythms of cortisol, a key stress hormone known to mediate relationships between stress experience and health. Data come from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS), a one-year birth cohort study established in 1983-1984. In 2005, when cohort members were 20-22 years old, waking, 30-minute post-waking and pre-bed saliva samples were collected to characterize diurnal cortisol curves, while whole blood was obtained and used to measure DNA methylation at ~850k CpG sites using the Illumina EPIC array. We calculated first-generation clocks trained on chronological age (Horvath, Hannum), second-generation clocks trained on suites of health indicators and mortality (PhenoAge, GrimAge, DNAmTL) and a third-generation clock trained on the pace of change in aging-related biomarkers (DunedinPACE). Relationships were most consistent with bedtime cortisol (reflecting chronic strain); all clocks related in the expected direction, and reached statistical signicance for the GrimAge (r=0.146, p=1.16x10^-8), PhenoAge (r=0.112, p=1.38x10^-5), and DunedinePACE 38 (r=0.063, p=.014) and 45 (r=0.078, p=0.002) clocks. Relationships were less consistent with total cortisol exposure and diurnal slope, but generally pointed to slower aging among individuals with more-robust waking responses. These findings point to plausible relationships between stress physiology and epigenetic markers of aging measured in young adulthood.

Sasha Post <spost@fas.harvard.edu>

1Dept. of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard U., Cambridge, MA

Fatigue is a common persistent impairment in individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Schiff et al (2023) recently conducted a feasibility study of deep brain stimulation (DBS) with the primary aim to assess improvements in executive control. Fatigue, as measured by the TBI-QOL Fatigue (TBI-QOL), was preselected as a secondary endpoint. The present study compares the before and after stimulation results of the TBI-QOL among five individuals participating in the DBS trial to fatigue assessed in two other types of self-reported data. Mean scores on the TBI-QOL were similar pre- and post-DBS (30 vs 26, respectively). On an additional self-reported questionnaire, the Rivermead Post-Concussive Symptom Questionnaire (RPQ), pre-DBS, three participants endorsed fatigue as a major problem and two endorsed fatigue as a minor problem. Post-DBS, only one participant endorsed fatigue as a major problem reported on RPQ, one endorsed fatigue as moderate problem and three indicated that fatigue was not a problem (mean score on one item decreased from 3.2 to 1.4). Narrative data also collected as part of a companion study (Fins et al, 2022, 2023) showed a strong effect: pre-DBS: three participants indicated that fatigue was a problem; post-DBS, all three of these participants specifically noted that fatigue had improved, while an additional participant noted improvement in fatigue despite not volunteering fatigue in their baseline interview. These findings broaden the understanding of symptom burden among individuals with chronic brain injuries and suggest the importance of incorporating narrative data to further inform self-report inventories.

Support: NIH BRAIN Initiative 1RF1MH12378-01 and UH3 NS095554

Linda Gerber

1Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, NY, 2Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College, 3Penn State Dickinson Law, Pennsylvania State University, 4Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy, Yale Law School, 5Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College

Cameroon is unique in Africa for having two colonial languages spoken in geographically distinct regions, due to its history of split colonial rule under the British and the French. The francophone population constitutes roughly 80% of the total, making anglophones a sociolinguistic minority who have long claimed marginalization by the Francophone majority and government. Little research has explored how this structural marginalization impacts the health of anglophone Cameroonians, which may contribute to health disparities through immediate adult health effects and intergenerational stress transmission.

Using 2011 Demographic and Health Survey data, we examine infant birthweight and prenatal care access, comparing outcomes between urban anglophone and francophone regions. The sample (N=871) includes infants born to women aged 20-34, living in urban regions, who gave birth within the five years before the survey. No significant differences were found in c-section rates, or number of prenatal appointments attended, though women in anglophone regions had their first prenatal visit three weeks later (p<0.00) than those in francophone regions. Despite this, infants born in anglophone regions (N=115) were on average 100g heavier than those born in francophone regions (N=756), with the difference trending toward significance (p<0.09). Women in anglophone regions, on average, were less educated, more likely to give birth in a private facility, less wealthy, and more primiparous relative to women in Francophone regions, however, these differences were not significant.

Future work should establish whether these apparent differences are due to systematic biases in representation in the sample, to some protective factors, or both.

Ca'la Connors

Northwestern University, Harvard Univeristy

Food allergies are a growing public health concern, with severe reactions such as anaphylaxis that pose constant, and very serious, risks for affected individuals. Traditional management strategies, usually focusing on allergen avoidance and emergency interventions, do not address the underlying causes of allergic responses. In recent years, oral immunotherapy (OIT), has emerged as a promising alternative in the allergy world. The goal of this type of treatment is to desensitize individuals to specific allergens by gradually introducing them in controlled doses (Kulis et al., 2017). This research project will explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which OIT induces desensitization and promotes long-term tolerance of one's allergens. Specifically, it will focus on the modulation of IgE-mediated immune responses, the suppression of mast cell and basophil activation, and the role of regulatory T cells in promoting immune tolerance (Ma & Zhu, 2024).

New adjunctive therapies, including omalizumab, also know as Xolair, have also recently even introduced in the allergy community. These methods may be able to advance both the safety and efficacy of oral immunotherapy by modulating IgE levels and decreasing severe allergic reactions during the desensitization process.

The following research study utilizes an extensive literature review, which includes survey data from individuals undergoing or having completed an oral immunotherapy program. It will also evaluate potential biomarkers of successful desensitization; examples of this include, but are not limited to, changes in the IgE/IgG4 ratio, generation of allergen-specific regulatory T cells, and changes in immune modulation. Understanding these immunological mechanisms will aid in understanding treatment protocols, mitigating risks, and improving outcomes for food allergy patients.

Khaloyan, Kaily

University of California, Berkeley

In certain pastoralist communities of East Africa, it is known that stressors directly affect adolescent growth and development. Adolescence is a critical period that demands adequate nutritional intake for physiological processes to be carried out. Stressors in these East African communities can cause delays in adolescent development, which can have downstream, long-term consequences. However, we do not have a complete understanding of the implications of endemic violence on the nutritional health of pastoralist youth in the Pokot and Turkana communities of Northern Kenya. This study aims to address the nutritional status over time of adolescents from these groups who experience widespread intercommunity violence. Our study analyzes anthropometric measurements of adolescents from each community, including stress markers, age, height, weight, skinfold measurements, and food insecurity levels. This study also analyzes additional data from open-ended interviews with community members to give a qualitative perspective to the study. We predict that high levels of stress caused by endemic violence will correlate to nutritional deficits in pastoralist youth. We also predict that chronic violence will have more profound developmental effects on adolescents who experience greater levels of stress across time. The findings of this study could offer valuable insight into how an environment afflicted by intercommunity violence influences the health and growth outcomes of pastoralist youth in Northern Kenya.

Valentina Dziecinny Vazquez and Aubree Kaliski

The University of Arizona, School of Anthropology

Evolutionary theories of social development hypothesize that children’s social behavior is adaptive to their developmental stage while also serving as practice for sex-typical adult social behavior. Therefore, the social relationships in which children invest time and effort are expected to vary with age and sex. Older children and adolescents are expected to engage with more non-kin playmates as they integrate into the broader community. Because adult men generally have larger social networks than women, boys are expected to develop larger play networks than girls as they age. We predicted that older children, especially boys, would have larger networks composed of more non-kin. We surveyed 109 children ages 5 to 17 in Utila, Honduras. Participants self-reported up to eight individuals with whom they had played during the last month. Additional information about playmates included their age, sex, and kin relation to the participant. Using Poisson generalized linear models we tested regressions of playmate count for various playmate identities against participant age and sex. Both boys and girls named fewer immediate kin as playmates with age (β = -0.213, p = 0.002). However, only girls named fewer of all kin types with age (β = -0.071, p = 0.049). Conversely, only boys’ number of non-kin playmates increased with age (β = 0.128, p = 0.049). Investigation of play network sex-segregation with age followed a similar pattern: girls’ playmate networks changed more through the reduction of certain categories of playmates with age whereas boys' networks changed through the increase of other categories.

Brooke Rothamer

1Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, MA; 2Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

The development of hydroelectric dams has been integral to economic development in low- and middle-income countries. For example, the Thwake Multipurpose Dam in Makueni, Kenya, is expected to reduce water insecurity and enhance economic development upon completion. However, the biosocial implications of these infrastructure projects, particularly among women and children, are poorly understood. As a measure of the stress related effects, this study examines the cortisol concentrations and diurnal variation of women who were either resettled by, live downstream of, or live upstream of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam development project. Salivary cortisol (1205 samples corresponding to 411 participants) was measured in the evening, upon waking, and 30-minutes after waking in 2019. After applying exclusion criteria to control for sample quality, collection timing, outliers, and survey data, 221 participants had at least one measure of cortisol concentration. Mean participant age was 37.1 years (SD 15.7), the mean on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was 35.2 (SD 9.40), the mean Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women was 5.72 (SD 2.01), and the mean wealth index was 0.070 (SD 0.901). In unadjusted linear regression, log-transformed evening cortisol concentration and evening-waking diurnal difference were significantly associated with displacement status. In adjusted linear regression, log-transformed evening cortisol concentration was significantly associated with displacement status. These results suggest that both displaced and downstream communities experience stress related hormonal changes from dam-induced disruption. Greater attention to downstream communities is necessary for more comprehensive mitigation measures to reduce the health impacts of hydroelectric dam development.

Lee, Cassie C

Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL and Department of Anthropology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Merullo, Nicole

1Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, MA; 2Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

En años recientes, el gobierno de la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz ha implementado un sistema de suministro intermitente de agua para cubrir la creciente demanda de una población en aumento y un déficit en la disponibilidad resultado de cambios en la hidrología de la región asociados a la deforestación y el cambio climático. Se ha documentado que este tipo de suministro tiene efectos negativos en la infraestructura y la calidad del agua. Sin embargo, son pocos los trabajos que se han ocupado del impacto de esta forma de inseguridad hídrica en la vida diaria y el bienestar de quienes la padecen, en particular, en la de mujeres cabezas de familia, a quienes comúnmente se asigna la gestión del agua como parte de sus responsabilidades de cuidados. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue recabar, mediante entrevistas en profundidad, las experiencias asociadas al abasto racionado e intermitente de agua, las estrategias para hacerle frente y las repercusiones directas e indirectas en las decisiones cotidianas y la salud psicosocial de mujeres habitantes en colonias populares de la ciudad. Se discuten los efectos del desabasto en términos económicos, de tiempo y de salud y bienestar percibidos, así como el impacto de la incertidumbre en las dinámicas familiares y convivencia comunitarias.

Palmeros de la Rosa, María José <zs20017263@estudiantes.uv.mx>

Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Veracruzana

We examine the role of egocentric networks in the subsistence strategies of the population of a multi-ethnic, predominantly Indigenous, peri-urban community in Brazilian Amazonia. Much of the literature on social, including egocentric, networks as means of access to subsistence focuses on their role as short-term coping strategies. However, among many traditional populations, including Indigenous cultures, such networks are viewed as an integral part of establishing both intra- and intertribal social relationships. Yet questions remain about the extent to which such networks exist in a multiethnic, peri-urban or urban setting and the reasons for which they form. By analyzing the networks present within the community, it becomes possible to predict the role such networks fill in subsistence strategies, as well as to determine their potential role in community integration. [Key words: egocentric networks, coping strategies, Indigenous cultures, Amazonia, peri-urban, community integration]

Wright, Harold M

Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University

Ecogeographic patterns in human body form have been well documented in living populations, skeletal collections, and fossil remains, and human variation generally conforms to the predictions of Bergmann’s (1947) and Allen’s (1877) rules. Specifically, populations from colder climates tend to exhibit relatively lower surface area to volume ratios (SA/V) and those from warmer environments display higher SA/V ratios, which is hypothesized to aid in heat retention in colder climates and heat dissipation in warmer ones. Recent research, however, has questioned whether these patterns are a product of climate-related selection pressure, or an artifact of population history. Before proposing evolutionary hypotheses regarding the development of human body form, functional links between anatomy and thermoregulatory physiology must be validated.

To this end, this study investigated the relationship between body surface area (BSA) and core temperature change in five males and five females exposed to four climatic conditions in a walk-in climate chamber: control (22°C, 50% RH), cold (5°C, 80% RH), hot/dry (44°C, 15% RH), and hot/humid (39°C, 85% RH). Prior to each 45 minute exposure, participants ingested an eCelsius sensor, which allows continuous core temperature monitoring at 15 seconds intervals, and heat loss/gain was quantified as change in core temperature during exposure. Total BSA was calculated using full body computed tomography scans of each participant. Results suggest that the relationship between core temperature and BSA vary by climatic exposure. Future research will both expand the study sample size and explore more complex relationships between BSA and skin temperature change.

Cowgill, Libby

University of Missouri

Growing research has underscored the elevated prevalence and burden of neuropsychiatric morbidity among adults living with long COVID. Scientists have suggested that the severity of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection may predict the prevalence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in long COVID. While countries in the Global South have faced among the highest incidence rates and burden of COVID-19, little is known about the neuropsychiatric symptoms of long COVID in these regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to 1) compare the prevalence of long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms between acute COVID-19 infection groups; 2) estimate the associations between COVID-19 severity and long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms; and 3) determine the association between long COVID symptoms and neuropsychiatric symptoms. This observational study took place in Johannesburg, South Africa between August 2022 and July 2023. A total of 360 adults were categorised into one of four case groups based on their initial COVID-19 symptoms: asymptomatic, symptomatic, hospitalised, and a vaccinated control group. Prevalence rates of PTSD (21.1%) and somatic symptoms (23.2%) were elevated. Individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 exhibited the greatest neuropsychiatric morbidity out of all groups, exhibiting the highest levels of depression, suicidality, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, somatisation, and headaches. Acute COVID-19 severity was associated with worse symptoms of depression, somatisation, and physical fatigue. Severity of possible long COVID symptoms was directly associated with neuropsychiatric sequelae. These results call attention to the long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and early identification and management of emerging neuropsychiatric symptoms in high-risk COVID-19 survivors in South Africa.

Kim, Andrew Wooyoung

Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; Wits/SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Both psychosocial stress and current infection can increase the likelihood of reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Pregnancy and infection with SARS-CoV-2 can be stressful and modulate immune function. However, it is unknown how SARS-CoV-2 infection and stress further interact among postpartum women to affect EBV antigen and antibody expression. We examined associations among COVID-19 diagnosis, self-reported stress, and EBV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in previously collected data from 45 breastfeeding U.S. women (1-18 months postpartum) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between June 2020 and March 2021, stress survey data and capillary dried blood HemaSpot samples were collected from 25 SARS-CoV-2 infected and 20 non-infected participants at multiple time points over the course of 60 days. Samples (N = 104) were later assayed for EBV IgG. Statistical methods were pre-registered, and relationships among SARS-CoV-2 infection, stress, and EBV IgG were analyzed via mixed-effects regression models, adjusting for time postpartum and time elapsed since enrollment. There was a statistically significant association between self-reported stress and EBV IgG levels, with higher average stress associated with higher average EBV IgG. EBV IgG concentration did not vary independently with COVID-19 positivity status or number of COVID-19 symptoms. Results suggest that EBV IgG concentrations were elevated across sample participants by stress, but not by the relatively mild cases of COVID-19 the mothers experienced.

Anastasi, Emma

University of Washington, Department of Anthropology

US-based research shows that Group antenatal care (ANC) effectively improves outcomes, including reduced preterm births, increased breastfeeding rates, and better pregnancy spacing. Group ANC has been adapted in dozens of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2016, WHO recommended increasing ANC contacts from four (ANC4+) to eight (ANC8+) and emphasized respectful care; they identified Group ANC as a promising service delivery model in need of rigorous research. We filled this gap by completing an effectiveness trial in Blantyre, Malawi, hypothesizing that Group ANC would increase ANC attendance and lead to fewer low birth weight (LBW) newborns. Group effects on outcomes were evaluated using t-tests, Mann-Whitney, or Chi-squared tests. Multivariable linear regression or logistic regression models, adjusted for covariates, for post-intervention outcomes were used to assess effectiveness. Participants in Group ANC had more ANC contacts than those in Individual ANC (5.6 vs 4.8; p < 0.0001); the regression model showed a positive impact of Group ANC (Estimate = 0.74). Those in Group ANC were 1.64 times and 3.27 times more likely to complete ANC4+ and ANC8+ (16.9% Group vs 5.8% Individual), respectively. Covariates associated with the mean number and ANC4+ outcomes were education, age, residence, and client-to-midwife ratios. Age was the only factor related to ANC8+. At 9.5% in Individual and 11.0% in Group ANC, LBW rates were not significantly different (p = 0.344). Despite no impact on LBW, this study shows that Group ANC significantly increases healthcare utilization and highlights its potential to improve maternal and infant outcomes in LMICs.

Crystal L. Patil

1 University of Michigan; 2 University of Illinois Chicago; 3 University of North Carolina Charlotte; 4 Kamuzu University of Health Science, Blantyre, Malawi;

Aronoff, Jacob E

Arizona State University

Structural and legislative attacks against transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people’s autonomy and self-determination in the United States have grown exponentially over the past five years. A growing body of literature links this stigma to poorer health among TNB people and implicates stigma as a key social determinant of health. In this context, it becomes vital to identify positive factors affecting health, as well as to understand how sociopolitical context may affect these relationships. Using baseline data from the Transgender Health and Resilience Study, a year-long study of stress and resilience among TNB people living in Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Oregon (N=107), we aimed to understand the relationship between pride in one’s TNB identity and allostatic load and how current state of residence changes this relationship. We indexed allostatic load through quartile-based cutoffs to indicate dysregulation in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cortisol awakening response, cortisol daily decline, HbA1c, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio. Analyses were adjusted for age. No significant association was detected between pride and allostatic load in the full sample. However, current state of residence moderated the relationship between allostatic load and pride, such that the beneficial effects of pride (i.e., a negative association between pride and allostatic load) was only present among those living in Tennessee. Given that Tennessee was the state with the least legislative protection against anti-TNB discrimination, these data suggest the effect of pride in one’s gender identity on health is most salient in more stigmatizing and less protective environments.

Kelsi Kuehn <zdubois@uoregon.edu>

University of Oregon, Department of Anthropology

Cameroon is unique in Africa for having two colonial languages spoken in geographically distinct regions, due to its history of split colonial rule under the British and the French. The francophone population constitutes roughly 80% of the total, making anglophones a sociolinguistic minority who have long claimed marginalization by the Francophone majority and government. Little research has explored how this structural marginalization impacts the health of anglophone Cameroonians, which may contribute to health disparities through immediate adult health effects and intergenerational stress transmission.

Using 2011 Demographic and Health Survey data, we examine infant birthweight and prenatal care access, comparing outcomes between urban anglophone and francophone regions. The sample (N=871) includes infants born to women aged 20-34, living in urban regions, who gave birth within the five years before the survey. No significant differences were found in c-section rates, or number of prenatal appointments attended, though women in anglophone regions had their first prenatal visit three weeks later (p<0.00) than those in francophone regions. Despite this, infants born in anglophone regions (N=115) were on average 100g heavier than those born in francophone regions (N=756), with the difference trending toward significance (p<0.09). Women in anglophone regions, on average, were less educated, more likely to give birth in a private facility, less wealthy, and more primiparous relative to women in Francophone regions, however, these differences were not significant.

Future work should establish whether these apparent differences are due to systematic biases in representation in the sample, to some protective factors, or both.

Connors, Ca'la Kian

Northwestern University, Harvard Univeristy

The integration of rural communities in low- and middle-income countries into globalizing market economies tends to show both positive and negative effects on children's growth and nutritional status. We recently concluded a study conducted in two Maya communities in Yucatan, Mexico, in which we analyzed secular changes in the anthropometric characteristics of children by comparing data collected during the 1980s and 1990s with data obtained during the last fieldwork season in 2022 and 2023. The communities differ in the time of the beginning of their integration into the economic and sociocultural dynamics of tourism: Yalcoba in the early 1970s and Dzeal in the early 2000s. This process has implied a gradual reduction of dependence of agriculture for self-consumption and the incorporation of the population into the salaried labor market in the main tourist centers of the region. Stunting prevalence have decreased between 61% and 81% in 6-to-12 years of children from 1986 to 2023. Estimates of total height (z-scores) increases were higher in the community that still preserves rural characteristics and has been incorporated more recently into the tourism economy (1.80 SD vs 0.42 SD for boys and 2.42 SD vs 1.64 SD for girls). There were substantial increases in the percentage of excess body weight during the studied period (23% to 45%) but more dramatically during 2000-2020. In boys, the increase in BMI (z-scores) was greater in the community with more time of integration into the market economy (1.09 SD vs. 0.68 SD) during the entire studied period.

Azcorra, Hugo <hugoazpe@hotmail.com>

1: Centro de Investigaciones Silvio Zavala, Universidad Modelo Mérida, Yucatán, México 2: Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional 3: Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán 4: Dirección de Nutrición, Secretaría de Salud Mérida, Yucatán, México 5: Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Península de Yucatán Mérida, Yucatán, México 6: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America. 7: Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America.

Gonorrhea transmission is biologically and behaviorally complex, and the disease has a strong propensity for evolving drug resistance. Additionally, marginalized communities experience a disproportionate burden of gonorrhea, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. Thus, tackling this public health problem requires a multi-disciplinary approach, combining socio-cultural, evolutionary, and biomedical perspectives. We set out to compare various public health strategies to mitigating drug-resistant gonorrhea in the US, focusing on cisgender men who have sex with men (“MSM”). To project the population-level impact of these strategies, we developed an agent-based model of gonococcal transmission among MSM, including introduction and transmission of drug-resistant strains. We compared a “surveillance-based” strategy, based on what is currently in place in the US, to several alternative strategies, which assign individual-level treatment regimens in the absence of surveillance information. We used Bayesian melding to calibrate the model against estimates from empirical data on gonorrhea among MSM. All strategies resulted in similar cumulative gonorrhea incidence over 20 years, but strategies varied dramatically in other outcomes. Notably, treatment failure rates were low but reliance on last-line antibiotics was high for the surveillance-based strategy. Further, none of the strategies were effective at preventing the spread of resistant strains long-term. In particular, the surveillance-based strategy appeared to accelerate the spread of drug resistance by applying a strong selective pressure on the bacterial population. Therefore, public health policy concerning drug-resistant gonorrhea merits reconsideration. This study also highlights how biological anthropology can offer new insight into public health problems by combining evolutionary and cultural approaches.

Ekanayake-Weber, Marcy

Yale School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management

Climate change is intensifying heat stress, water scarcity, and altering hydration dynamics globally. This is of particular concern to vulnerable groups such as women in reproductive roles because dehydration during pregnancy and lactation affects maternal and infant outcomes by impairing prenatal development and decreasing breast milk production. Therefore, understanding how heat stress affects hydration status across reproductive states is crucial. This study explores the relationship between ambient heat stress as indicated by Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and hydration status measured using urine specific gravity (Usg) among Daasanach semi-nomadic women in northern Kenya. Between 2019 and 2024, 558 observations were collected from 294 women—pregnant, lactating, and non-pregnant non-lactating (NPNL). Results from mixed effects logistic regressions indicate heat stress was associated with a 53% increase in the odds of dehydration (Usg > 1.020) regardless of reproductive status across all years (OR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.88; p<0.001). Lactating women had higher average Usg values (B=0.0015; 95% CI: 0.000032-0.0030; p=0.045) than their NPNL counterparts. Additionally, compared to NPNL women, lactating women in 2023 and 2024 had a 0.39 point (SE=0.18; p=0.031) increase in heat perception with every 1ºC increase in WBGT; while pregnant women experienced a 0.63 point (SE=0.10; p=0.015) increase in thirst perception, indicated by a greater sensation of mouth dryness. These results illustrate that heat stress significantly impacts hydration and thermal heat perception among lactating and pregnant women, highlighting the need for maternal health interventions that ensure clean water access and mitigate heat stress.

Arshad, Suha

Department of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University, Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Global Health Institute, Duke University, Department of Biology, Elon University, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University

C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, varies by population, environment, and sex. Understanding CRP variability is essential for identifying factors affecting inflammation and disease risk. This pilot study measured CRP in Quechua women from a Peruvian highland farming community. Here we explored demographic/socioeconomic predictors of CRP and its associations with health variables. Data was collected from 50 participants (anthropometry. blood pressure (BP), and interviews regarding demographic, socioeconomic, and dietary factors). Blood samples were collected via finger-prick, and stored, transferred, and analyzed using standard laboratory protocols. Due to missing information, 43 samples were retained in statistical analyses. CRP levels ranged from 0.077-2.440 mg/L (median = 0.206 mg/L, confidence interval 0.271- 0.601), all within the normal range (<3 mg/L). Age, socioeconomic status, education, household crowding, and weekly meat consumption did not predict CRP. Weekly fish consumption showed a weak U-shaped association with CRP (r=0.24), with lowest CRP at intermediate intakes. BMI exhibited a moderate, inverted U-shaped association (r=0.50), with CRP peaking at intermediate BMIs. BP showed a weak U-shaped association (r=0.21 systolic, r=0.24 diastolic), with CRP highest at intermediate BPs. In conclusion, CRP was low, consistent with other Andean communities, perhaps due to long-term adaptations to high-altitude environments. Moderate and weak associations between CRP and BMI, and CRP and BP (respectively) are non-linear, suggesting that other physiological factors may modulate CRP levels. These findings underscore the importance of population-specific research to understand environmental and lifestyle influences on CRP variability and inflammation-related health risks.

Turner, Gracie Mae Cherye

Purdue University, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán

Chronic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activation can affect the regulation of inflammation, potentially reducing glucocorticoid sensitivity and promoting the development of a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Epidemiological studies often rely on static baseline measures of circulating inflammatory biomarkers, whereas minimally invasive ex-vivo cell culture protocols can quantify dynamic inflammatory regulation by measuring cytokine responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenges and subsequent regulatory response to glucocorticoids (GCs) in small volumes of whole blood. These ex-vivo cell culture systems are potentially cost-effective approaches for assessing pro-inflammatory phenotype development and GC sensitivity in community-based settings, however it remains unclear whether observed inflammatory regulation patterns captured by these systems indicate trait or state effects and whether inflammatory regulation measurements are associated with circadian timing. In this study we compare pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in an ex-vivo LPS-GC cell culture system across two time points and between morning and afternoon blood collections among participants in Project TAURUS (Targeting And Understanding Racism Under the Skin), a pilot study of young adults of color residing in Austin, TX (ages 18-26, 75% female, n=154). Paired t-tests will be used to compare IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα concentrations across four stimulated culture conditions completed two weeks apart and between participants completing morning versus afternoon blood draws. These results will contribute new methodological considerations of observation stability and timing in measurements of inflammation regulation in community settings.

Krause, Keegan C

Northwestern University, Department of Anthropology

Schleper, Kassandra

University of California Los Angeles, Department of Anthropology

Rationale: Guatemala has long faced high levels of child undernutrition, particularly among indigenous populations. Breastfeeding practices and maternal nutritional status are key factors influencing children's nutritional outcomes. The relationship between breastfeeding, maternal anthropometry, and childhood nutritional status is not linear and varies according to indigenous status (Maya/non-Maya). Methods: We analysed data from 10,367 mothers-child dyads, retrieved from the 2015 Guatemala Demographic Health Survey (DHS). Predictor variables included breastfeeding frequency and duration, and maternal nutritional status assessed via anthropometric measures. Covariates included indigenous status, maternal education, marital status, language spoken at home, and wealth index. The outcome variables measured were child stunting, wasting, underweight, and anaemia. Results: Prolonged breastfeeding was linked to an increased likelihood of stunting in Maya children but a decreased likelihood among non-Maya children. Being Maya increased the odds of childhood stunting and underweight but reduced the likelihood of wasting. Maternal stunting was directly associated with child stunting and underweight, whilst maternal BMI was significantly associated to child wasting. Maya children faced a higher risk of stunting when mothers reported a lower wealth index, a larger household size, lower education levels, and moderate anaemia. Conclusion: Maternal anthropometric characteristics and breastfeeding practices have a significant impact on child nutritional status in Guatemala, with the Maya population facing higher risks for adverse outcomes.

Varela-Silva, Maria Ines

Loughborough University - School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Kunkle, Amanda E

University of Washington

Accelerometry, an objective measure of physical activity (PA), is used by human biologists to understand childhood energy expenditure and PA patterns within lower-income countries. However, PA and related health outcomes have not been studied using accelerometry in low-resource areas of high-income countries. This pilot study assesses the feasibility of accelerometry use for measuring PA in 28 children (ages 3-12, 46% female) from two low-resource communities in the Mississippi Delta and Southwestern Illinois. We present accelerometry metrics (i.e., average acceleration [a measure of activity volume], intensity gradient [a measure of activity intensity]) that allow for greater cross-study comparisons than metrics more commonly used in human biology research that depend on population and device specific cutoffs (e.g., time spent in moderate to vigorous PA [MVPA]). Participants wore an Axivity AX3 accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist and met the study wear time requirement (10+ hours/day, 4+ days). Parents and children completed PA questionnaires and interviews about their experience with the device. While 54% of children found the band uncomfortable at times, 89% said they would wear an accelerometer again. Pearson’s correlations demonstrate that MVPA was correlated with average acceleration (r(26) = 0.95, p <0.0001) and intensity gradient (r(26) = 0.54, p = 0.002). This study suggests that wrist-worn accelerometers are feasible for measuring children’s PA in low-resource U.S. communities. Improving our understanding and reporting of childhood PA in low-resource U.S. communities will clarify how these environments influence childhood activity patterns and related risk factors (e.g., body composition, bone density/health) for adult disease.

Katherine Nemeth

Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO ; Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, TX

Recent research on food security assumes households gain and maintain supermarket access through processes of infrastructure development and urbanization and therefore divides households into those with market access and those without. Our work in Chilean Patagonia challenges this interpretation of market integration as it does not accurately represent how people provision their households on the periphery of the global economy. We explored the relationship between household consumption of locally available resources and proximity to globalized research chains in three distinct locations within the Aysén Region: Coyhaique (the capital and administrative center of the area), Puerto Aysén (a large coastal town), and Puerto Aquirre (a small island community). Preliminary data analyses suggest that local resources comprise a greater portion of local diets in Puerto Aysén and Puerto Aquirre and that these resources distributed via community networks reduce household precarity when supply chain disruptions occur. These results suggest a link between household and community resilience when more formal food availability is inconsistent. Further work is needed to explore how the distribution of locally available resources through dynamic community networks impacts household food security, health outcomes, and community resilience to market disruptions. However, this project highlights the need to explore the nuances of market integration within rural communities and revisit market integration perspectives in anthropological research.

Dorsey, Achsah Foster

[1] Department of Anthropology University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA [2] Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

Circadian rhythms form the biological basis for numerous physiological and behavioral processes, including sleep patterns. While regulated by the light-dark cycle, other stimuli including temperature and work hours also influence them. Although sleep's importance for health is well known, the role of rest-activity patterns—an expression of circadian rhythm—is less understood. Here, we present rest-activity data from two Indigenous Wixárika samples in Mexico: one from a rural town in northern Jalisco, and the other from communities of migrants in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. We hypothesized that urban environments disrupt rest-activity rhythms, predicting that the urban migrants would have less stable, more variable rest-activity patterns and later sleep timing than those living in the rural community. We generated rest-activity data (relative amplitude (RA), interdaily stability (IS), and intradaily variability (IV)) from 124 participants (mean age=33.37 years, 67.74% women) using wrist-worn accelerometers. Using linear regression analyses, we compared RA, IS, and IV by location, controlling for occupation, age, and gender. We found no difference between groups in RA (estimate=−0.003, p=0.907), IS (estimate=-0.006, p=0.803), or IV (estimate=0.003, p=0.931). Women have significantly higher IS than men (estimate=0.078, p<0.001), and those working as artisans have significantly lower IV than non-artisans (estimate=-0.134, p=0.002). We found that the average midpoint of sleep—indicating sleep timing—is significantly later in the urban compared to the rural group (estimate=49.17, p<0.001). These results indicate that factors associated with urban living environments may drive later sleep timing, but that social factors may be more important in influencing circadian rhythms.

Funding: This research was supported by the Wenner Gren Foundation, the Centre for Urban Environments, the Shelley R. Saunders Thesis Research Grant, the Sigma Xi Fund of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Society for the Study of Human Biology

McKinnon, Leela

University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Anthropology and Centre for Urban Environments

Mirabal Torres, Silvio Ernesto

1 Harvard University 2 Columbia University; 3 University of San Carlos, Philippines; 4 University of British Columbia; 5 Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; 6 Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics

Life history theory predicts that the costs of reproduction trade off with self-maintenance. In humans, maternal investment is metabolically expensive, and complex physiological adaptations support offspring development across pregnancy and lactation. We know that the maternal skeleton acts as a critical reservoir of essential nutrients and a regulator of metabolic homeostasis. Therefore, it is an ideal organ system to study how calcium—a critical nutrient for a growing fetus—is rerouted from the mother to meet the growing needs of her rapidly developing offspring. Here we aim to review the literature on changes in maternal bone density across reproduction, especially during lactation when calcium output is the highest. It is well established that osteocalcin (OCN), a protein secreted by osteoblasts, aids in bone formation and glucose metabolism. The levels of OCN during pregnancy and lactation are linked to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone related-protein (PTHrP) concentrations. This is of interest because PTH and PTHrP play crucial roles in maintaining calcium balance and facilitating fetal transport throughout pregnancy. Although the relationship between PTH, PTHrP and OCN presents a unique model to understand the trade-off between maternal bone maintenance with reproductive investment, our preliminary results show that there is conflicting evidence regarding osteocalcin's involvement in bone formation and metabolic regulation, alongside varying opinions on the relationship between PTH, PTHrP and OCN. This work highlights the roles of PTH, PTHrP and OCN from an evolutionary perspective, to better understand the mechanisms governing this life history trade-off during reproduction.

Santamaria, Annie Megan

¹Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, ²Michigan Medicine Pediatrics

Housing insecurity is stressful and harms health and well-being. Illicit substance use, though stigmatized, is often described as “self-medication” among people experiencing houselessness (PEH). It is unclear, however, if substance use exacerbates or mitigates health issues for PEH. This analysis explores how substance use is related to physiological health among PEH. Data were collected from 86 PEH, ages 20-74 (M=49.5, SD=12) years with 79% self-identifying as men. Data collection occurred at a local park and service center emphasizing community-defined ethical procedures. Biomarker data were normalized (final N=52) and analyzed using Principal Component Analysis. Five factors emerged: Factor 1 (23.5%): highest factor loadings for systolic (.933) and diastolic (.891) blood pressure. Factor 2 (17.6%): total cholesterol (.965) and LDL (.867). Factor 3 (14.0%): hemoglobin (.720), HDL (-.769), and triglycerides (.690). Factor 4 (11.2%): glucose (.727), HBA1c (.756), and cortisol (.632). Factor 5 (10.1%): heart rate (.901). Factor 2 was correlated with use of cannabis (-.357, p = .010) and stimulants (-.312, p = .044). Alcohol use was correlated with Factor 3 (-.370, p = .007) and Factor 5 (-.426, p = .002). Hallucinogenic use was correlated with Factor 3 (-.457, p = .003). These results suggest that substance use within PEH may support certain facets of health. This counterintuitive finding suggests that expectations of health harms from substance use should be tempered by context-specific considerations, especially for populations with limited access to healthcare who may use substances to manage physical and psychological symptoms.

Van Steenis, Allissa L.

1Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 2Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, 3Department of Global Studies, University of Oregon

The present study investigated the relationship between somatic maturation and human development in children. The sample includes 7,332 children (54% girls) aged 9-11 y from 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States). Maturity offset was computed from sex-specific regression equations using age and anthropometric characteristics to predict status of the child relative to their age at peak height velocity (aPHV). Sex-stratified mixed multilevel models with age as a covariate, accounting for the clustered data (children within schools within study sites), were used to examine the relationship between maturity offset and Human Development Index (HDI; analyzed as quartiles). The mean (SD) for age and maturity offset were 9.9 (0.6) y and -2.1 (1.0) y, respectively. HDI ranged from 0.509 for Kenya to 0.929 for Australia. Boys from higher HDI countries were closer to aPHV [mean (SE)]: Quartile 1, -3.2 (0.03) y; Quartile 2: -3.0 (0.03) y; Quartile 3: -2.8 (0.02) y; and Quartile 4: -2.8 (0.02) y; p for trend <0.0001. Girls from higher HDI countries were also closer to aPHV: Quartile 1, -1.6 (0.03) y; Quartile 2: -1.6 (0.03) y; Quartile 3: -1.3 (0.02) y; and Quartile 4: -1.3 (0.02) y; p for trend <0.0001. A similar association was observed using partial correlations between HDI and maturity offset, adjusting for age, which were 0.28 in boys and 0.20 in girls. In conclusion, children from countries with higher levels of human development were more advanced in terms of somatic maturation.

KATZMARZYK, PETER

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Adrenarche is hypothesized to provide protection to a rapidly developing brain during this time (6-8 years of age), through increased production of DHEA/S, which has antioxidant properties and supports brain energetics. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) proteins are critical for neurodevelopment and are encoded by the BDNF gene. As such, BDNF gene expression should covary with the timing of adrenarche. Previous research indicates that early life stress and social-emotional environments might affect maturational timing, though few studies have explored adrenarche timing. This analysis tested three hypotheses: 1) more distant and reserved maternal-infant interaction quality is associated with BDNF methylation at 7 years of age, 2) more distant and reserved maternal-infant interaction quality is associated with premature adrenarche, and 3) variation in BDNF methylation at 7 years of age is associated with premature adrenarche. A secondary data analysis of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) compared differences in the methylation of 77 BDNF CpG sites from birth to 7.5 years of age (n=927), the association of BDNF methylation with DHEA-S concentrations at 8.5 years of age (n=162), the association of BDNF methylation with observed maternal-infant interaction quality (n=109), and the association of DHEA-S and observed maternal-infant interaction quality (n=70). Multiple linear regressions showed only significant associations between the first principal component score of BDNF methylation at birth and 7 years of age (p<.05). Sensitivity analysis in a correlation matrix showed one significant association between site cg04106006 at age 7 with premature adrenarche (DHEAS > 50 µg/dL) (p<.05). These results indicate that the prenatal period may be more influential on BDNF methylation than postnatal stress. They may also point to a discordance between brain methylation patterns and timing of adrenarche suggesting some individuals may not experience the protective effects of adrenarche during childhood brain development.

Cruz, Tristan T

The Ohio State University, Department of Anthropology

Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) adolescents are both racialized and invisible minorities in Canada and the United States (U.S.), following the war on terror, incomplete ethnic categorization, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab racism. We conducted a scoping review of physical and psychological health in SWANA adolescent populations living in the U.S. and Canada. Inclusion criteria encompassed adolescents and emerging adults aged 10-24 who identified as Arab or SWANA. Included scholarly literature reported at least one physical or psychological health outcome and was published in English or Arabic before November 2024. We identified 186 relevant studies using ResearchRabbit.ai, Google Scholar, and PubMed. We selected 22% of them for inclusion in the review (n = 44), highlighting the paucity of research on health and biopsychosocial variation among SWANA adolescents in North America over a 36-year period (1995-2024). Despite heterogeneity in the health outcomes reported across studies, many focused on acculturative stress, ethnic identity formation, mental health, and discrimination. Few studies examined physical health and sexual and reproductive health; none examined pubertal, immunological, or linear growth outcomes. We discuss how biocultural and human biological research approaches can contribute to advancing a needed and more holistic understanding of health variation among SWANA adolescent populations.

Fairclough- Dick, Alexa Chanté

University of Toronto, Department of Anthropology

Death and dying evoke significantly different beliefs and practices across cultures. This study investigates interactions between social and physical ecologies in the context of mortuary practices in Tanna, Vanuatu - a context where climate change and an influx of Christian faiths may contribute to changing norms and institutions surrounding death. We conducted interviews with ni-Vanuatu people to understand the intersections between death, spirituality, and nature in ni-Vanuatu belief and practice. We describe evidence that changes in religion and ecology impact death practices and speculate about how future changes, like globalization, market integration, and climate change will impact landscapes of death for ni-Vanuatu people.

Baca, Patrick

University of New Mexico, Independent Scholar, Rutgers University

Despite women’s physiological need for large amounts of iron during pregnancy, there are only a few studies that have studied the relationship between iron status and fecundity/fertility. Women with both low and high iron biomarkers have been reported to experience low fertility or fecundity, depending on population context and biomarker choice. This study seeks to test two different biomarkers of iron deficiency, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and ferritin, and their relationship to self-reported infertility in 483 reproductive-aged (18-49 years old) women who have never been pregnant in the NHANES 2015-2018 dataset. I predicted that greater iron deficiency, measured by higher sTfR and lower ferritin, would be associated with greater odds of reporting infertility. Ferritin and sTfR were log-transformed prior to analysis. PROC SURVEYLOGISTIC was used, with appropriate weights, to analyze odds ratio of self-reported infertility. Controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income/poverty ratio, BMI, and log C-reactive protein, higher sTfR was significantly associated with higher odds of reported infertilty (OR = 3.47, p = 0.01). Lower ferritin was marginally associated with higher odds of infertility (OR = 1.68, p = 0.08). In contrast to previous studies, iron deficiency is associated with greater likelihood of infertility in U.S. women who have not been pregnant. In this study, sTfR showed a stronger relationship than ferritin. This may be due to ferritin’s role as an acute phase reactant during inflammation, a known risk factor for infertility in this population. Choice of biomarker may impact research findings and ultimately clinical decision-making for iron deficient women.

Miller, Elizabeth M

University of South Florida

Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are significant contributing factors to maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Utilizing a local biologies perspective with a focus on syndemics, this analysis explores how immigration-related social vulnerabilities may contribute to the high and increasing prevalence rates of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes among Latinas. Past research has shown that these conditions are related to biosocial processes, highlighting a need to better understand the role of social vulnerabilities in the clinical manifestation of these pregnancy complications. Drawing from a study of 176 pregnant Latina border residents utilizing publicly funded prenatal care, this analysis uses medical records, survey responses, and in-depth interviews to explore social vulnerabilities related to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The sample had a 24.9% prevalence rate of preeclampsia, compared to the national rate of approximately 5%, and a 24.9% prevalence rate of gestational diabetes, compared to the national rate of approximately 8.3%. A subset of interview data from participants who were US citizens shows how the effect of restrictive immigration policies and concerns over close family members contributed to social vulnerabilities. Survey data including the Kessler-10 emotional distress scale further emphasizes how pervasive feelings of distress for this subgroup were, as individuals who were concerned about the immigration status of immediate family members had higher levels of emotional distress (b = 3.27, p-value = 0.036). These findings emphasize the significant health effects of immigration policies, beyond concerns for one’s own immigration status, and the wide-reaching impact of immigration policies on borderland residents.

Solis, Anamaria <asolis35@miners.utep.edu>

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the University of Texas at El Paso, TX

Beauregard, Jade Alexandra

Washington University in St. Louis

Perceived Economic Insecurity (PEI), defined as the inability to access sufficient resources to protect against immediate or future adverse circumstances, may be linked to worse health outcomes via the stress response. There is a paucity of research in Mexico on the dynamics between PEI and Food Insecurity (FI), which are both characterized by unpredictability. This mixed-method study aims to test, for the first time, associations between PEI, FI, and chronic stress from a biocultural perspective, as well as explore resilience strategies employed by women facing FI in an urban environment. Participants were recruited via the Cucharada de Amor Foundation, a non-profit organization that runs a foodbank service in the city of Minatitlán, Mexico. Primary quantitative survey data were collected to assess PEI, FI, and chronic stress. A sub-sample of participants were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore the lived experience of economic insecurity, resilience strategies, and perceptions of mental wellbeing. Both PEI and FI were positively associated with higher levels of perceived chronic stress (p<0.005). Interview findings suggested that PEI and FI are not always experienced simultaneously as other non-income dependent strategies to access food, even in an urban environment, may act as a buffer. PEI was experienced as a major stressor, beyond inadequate and uncertain access to essential resources such as food, via greater exposure to violence, pollution, and barriers to healthcare. Our findings suggest that attention should be paid to PEI in generating chronic stress, as a key facet of structural violence.

Stone, Geneviève Lola

1School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol (Bristol, United Kingdom) 2Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, University of Bristol (Bristol, United Kingdom) 3Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa, México) 4Department for Health, University of Bath (Bath, United Kingdom) 5 Fundación Cucharada de Amor, Minatilán (Minatitlán, México)

Wiley, Kyle Steven

University of Texas at El Paso

Transitions toward market-based economies introduce populations to new epidemiological and nutritional challenges such as Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled blood glucose. T2D screening approaches involve identifying obesity via body mass index (BMI), though biological anthropologists and others have challenged this measurement’s utility. We evaluated twelve anthropometric measurements as alternative predictors of T2D (clinical diagnosis or random capillary blood glucose concentration >140 mg/dL) in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific currently undergoing a rapid economic and epidemiological transition. Anthropometry data collected from 368 adults included height/weight, estimates of abdominal adiposity (waist/hip circumferences), body composition (muscle/fat percentages), and skinfold measurements. Dominance analysis and estimates of model fit (AIC/BIC) identified important predictors for logistic regression models. Parallel analyses revealed unique patterns across sexes, which were obscured when considering participants together. For males, higher muscle mass (OR: 0.72, p = 0.029) and body fat percentages (OR: 0.82, p = 0.041) were inversely associated with diabetes risk. For females, height mattered more: higher waist-to-height ratios (OR: 1.07, p = 0.014) and shorter stature (OR for height in cm: 0.93, p = 0.147) increased risk. Females in this population may be more sensitive to nutritional strain during childhood, where individuals who experienced stunting were more susceptible to T2D as adults. Alternatively, males may be able to offset diabetes risk more effectively through aspects of their physiology and body composition, such as greater muscle proportions. These results support the growing movement away from using BMI to predict chronic disease risk.

Gauck, ME

1Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, New York, USA; 2Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York, USA; 3Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; 4Ministry of Health, Republic of Vanuatu; 5Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA

Fried, Ruby

University of Alaska Anchorage

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are global health priorities, but in the United States few studies have examined the intersection of intestinal health, parasite infection, the microbiome, and clean water access. No study has explored these phenomena with people experiencing houselessness (PEH). Given the sensitive and often stigmatizing nature of WASH issues and the methods used to assess the health impacts thereof (e.g., fecal samples), researchers examining these topics must tread carefully to avoid further marginalizing groups for whom WASH access is a challenge. Toward that end, we used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to design a pilot project under a larger housing insecurity and health study that examined WASH and its health consequences among PEH. Initial results from a focus group with five participants showed consistent WASH access challenges and experience with unfiltered water causing serious illness and stress. Water sources included the local river for multiple uses, including drinking and bathing. In the next several months we will be collecting additional interview data and beginning a pilot study that involves analysis of parasite infection, intestinal inflammation, and microbiome composition. These preliminary discussions suggest that despite no historical studies examining parasite infections and intestinal health among this population in the US, it is reasonable to expect novel findings given prevalent WASH accessibility challenges. The CBPR methodology will allow us to work in collaboration with participants and the community towards interventions, intestinal healthcare access, open lines of bidirectional communication for feedback, and overall health of the community.

Locke, Abiel K <abiell@uoregon.edu>

University of Oregon

Sub-optimal intake of fruits and vegetables accounted for over 50% of chronic disease-specific deaths in the U.S. in 2019 studies. Juicing is often promoted as a convenient way to consume more of these foods, with juice-only diets marketed for cleansing and health improvement. However, juicing removes most insoluble fiber, potentially reducing the health benefits of whole fruits and vegetables. Lower fiber intake can alter the microbiota, which influences metabolism, immunity, and mental health. Yet, little is known about how juice affects the microbiota. To address this, we conducted a dietary intervention study to explore juice’s impact on the gut and oral microbiota in 14 participants on one of three diets: exclusive juice, juice plus food, or plant-based food. The intervention lasted three days, and samples were collected at baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 14 days later. We analyzed stool, saliva, and internal cheek microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. No significant shifts in overall gut microbiome diversity or composition were observed, though individual taxa abundances did change. The cheek and saliva microbiota showed differences in Streptococcaceae and Neisseriaceae, potentially linked to high sugar and low fiber intake. The gut microbiota showed an increase in families associated with gut permeability, inflammatory markers, cognitive impairment, anxious behavior, and progression toward neurodegenerative disorders. These results suggest that short-term juice consumption may have negative effects on the microbiota and warrant further study into diet-microbiome-disease interaction.

Savo Sardaro, Maria Luisa

1) Northwestern University, Department of Anthropology, Evanston, Illinois; 2) Department of Human Science and Promotion of the Quality of Life, University of San Raffaele, Rome, Italy; 3) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois; 4) Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

Structural vulnerability builds on structural violence—the theory that inequitable social systems enact violence against human bodies—to describe how individuals with particular positionalities are at greater risk for negative health outcomes. In forensic anthropology, structural vulnerability approaches enable a shift from the discipline’s traditional focus on individual identifications to allow the recognition of population-level patterns in casework. Acknowledging poor skeletal/dental health to be caused by upstream, societal-level influences, not the behavioral factors often perceived as individual choices, enables the reporting of socially produced patterns of suffering to the State.

This research investigated one such pattern—the correlation between poverty and antemortem tooth loss (AMTL)—using a sample of 345 identified, anonymized forensic case decedents of kin-documented age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) with CT imagery curated in the New Mexico Decedent Image Database (Black female/male n=57; Hispanic female/male n=100; Indigenous female/male n=88; white female/male n=100). CT images were analyzed for AMTL; Wilcoxon signed-rank tests assessed distributional differences between low- and high-SES groups within each gender and race category.

Median AMTL was almost always higher in low-SES individuals than age-matched high-SES individuals—statistically significantly so for Black males (p=0.0006), white females (p<0.0001), and white males (p=0.04). This pattern was reproduced for edentulism (complete AMTL), with low-SES groups exhibiting between 8-25% edentulism, versus 0-8% in high-SES groups.

The poor dental health evidenced among people living in poverty can be rectified with changes to social policy and medical infrastructure. Structural vulnerability highlights problems that are socially created, and thus also solvable.

Funding for this research was provided by the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research and the Society of Forensic Anthropologists (SOFA).

Winburn, Allysha Powanda

University of West Florida