BioAge

We are excited to have expanded the original Q SNAPS study to learn more about how the aging experiences you told us about relate to other biological markers of aging – that is, how your body is physically aging. These studies are linked to but separate from the survey portion of the study and are called the Q SNAPS BioAge Studies. 

If you do not want to provide any biological material (like blood or DNA), you do not have to. You will stay enrolled in Q SNAPS even if you do not participate in the BioAge Studies.

About half of Q SNAPS respondents opted into the first round of the Q SNAPS BioAge DNA collection. This involved self-collecting two cheek swabs and returning them via mail. The DNA in these samples was then extracted and frozen. About half of the samples we have received have been analyzed using a special process that helps us determine how much oxidative stress your DNA has experienced. This measure isn't clinically relevant to individuals -- that is, it doesn't tell us if you're sick or not -- but can be used along with all of the other samples to help us identify patterns in our population that predict faster or slower aging. From these data, we have been able to show that there are certain negative life experiences that can accelerate aging among LGBTQ+ people and other experiences, like support and affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities, that can help slow the aging process among LGBTQ+ people.

In a second pilot study, we collected blood samples from a small number of Q SNAPS participants (N=160) to assess acceptability of a new method of self-collection of blood samples at home. Blood samples still provide some of the best markers of health and aging that researchers can study. Here, we used a self-collection device called a Tasso Button that can be mailed to participants so that you don't have to travel to a lab or have someone visit your home to draw blood. An additional up-side of this method of collection is that it is as close to painless as blood collection can get! We're excited to be able to expand this to all participants in the near future!

As with the Q SNAPS survey study, all of your information is confidential. No personal data is linked to any of your survey or biological data.