Cited by 10Indigenous Health, Education, and RightsEpigenetics and DNA MethylationRacial and Ethnic Identity Research

Association between gene methylation and experiences of historical trauma in Alaska Native peoples

Open access
Rogers-LaVanne, Mary P., Bader, Alyssa C., de Flamingh, Alida, Saboowala, Sana, Smythe, Chuck, Atchison, Bernadine, Moulton, Nathan, Wilson, Amelia +5 more·2023·International Journal for Equity in Health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Historical trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples of North America is correlated with health disparities and is hypothesized to be associated with DNA methylation. Massive group traumas such as genocide, loss of land and foodways, and forced conversion to Western lifeways may be embodied and affect individuals, families, communities, cultures, and health. This study approaches research with Alaska Native people using a community-engaged approach designed to create mutually-beneficial partnerships, including intentional relationship development, capacity building, and sample and data care. METHODS: A total of 117 Alaska Native individuals from two regions of Alaska joined the research study. Participants completed surveys on cultural identification, historical trauma (historical loss scale and historical loss associated symptoms scale), and general wellbeing. Participants provided a blood sample which was used to assess DNA methylation with the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC array. RESULTS: We report an association between historical loss associated symptoms and DNA methylation at five CpG sites, evidencing the embodiment of historical trauma. We further report an association between cultural identification and general wellbeing, complementing evidence from oral narratives and additional studies that multiple aspects of cultural connection may buffer the effects of and/or aid in the healing process from historical trauma. CONCLUSION: A community-engaged approach emphasizes balanced partnerships between communities and researchers. Here, this approach helps better understand embodiment of historical trauma in Alaska Native peoples. This analysis reveals links between the historical trauma response and DNA methylation. Indigenous communities have been stigmatized for public health issues instead caused by systemic inequalities, social disparities, and discrimination, and we argue that the social determinants of health model in Alaska Native peoples must include the vast impact of historical trauma and ongoing colonial violence.

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  • Trauma-related variation has been described in pathways relevant to neurodevelopment, immune-inflammatory signaling, circadian regulation, metabolism, and memory formation.

    “Trauma-related variation has also been described in pathways relevant to neurodevelopment, immune-inflammatory signaling, circadian regulation, metabolism, and memory formation (7–9).”

    From Epigenetic changes associated with multi-generational trauma: characterization, mechanisms, and therapeutics (2026) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Results and Discussion sections on historical loss symptoms and differential DNA methylation describe associated genes involved in immune-system and metabolic pathways. They do not identify pathways for neurodevelopment, circadian regulation, or memory formation, and the Results state that no genes were significantly overrepresented in any biological pathway. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • These findings implicate coordinated variation across metabolic and regulatory pathways and have been associated with historical loss-related symptom reporting.

    “These findings implicate coordinated variation across metabolic and regulatory pathways and have been associated with historical loss-related symptom reporting (8).”

    From Epigenetic changes associated with multi-generational trauma: characterization, mechanisms, and therapeutics (2026) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Results section reports five methylation sites significantly associated with historical loss-associated symptoms and identifies metabolic and regulatory-related pathways involving their genes. It also says no genes were significantly overrepresented in any pathway, so the paper does not establish coordinated variation across those pathways. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Genome-wide analyses in Alaska Native communities have identified methylation differences in genes involved in mitochondrial metabolism, calcium transport, chromatin organization, and molecular trafficking.

    “Genome-wide analyses in Alaska Native communities have identified methylation differences in genes involved in mitochondrial metabolism, calcium transport, chromatin organization, and molecular trafficking (8).”
  • Many investigations focus on historically defined trauma-exposed populations, including Holocaust survivors, Rwandan genocide survivors, and Alaska Native communities.

    “Many investigations focus on historically defined trauma-exposed populations, including Holocaust survivors, Rwandan genocide survivors, and Alaska Native communities (8, 82, 98).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [8]Walters KL Beltran R Huh D Evans-Campbell T Burton L Matthews S Leung M Kemp S Takeuchi D Dis-placement and Dis-ease: Land, Place, and Health Among American Indians and Alaska Natives Communities, Neighborhoods, and Health Social Disparities in Health and Health Care 2011 New York Springer 163 99
  2. [14]Sealaska Heritage Institute. Tribal members, military hold historic meeting on bombardments. Press Release. Juneau; 2020. Available from: https://www.sealaskaheritage.org/node/1170.
  3. [18]Mallonee M Selective justice: A crisis of missing and murdered Alaska native women Alaska Law Review 2021 38 93 120
  4. [25]Bader AC Carbaugh AE Bardill J Malhi RS Petzelt B Mitchell J Meloche CH Spake L Nichols KL Building relationships to shift accountability: Doing paleogenomic research with Indigenous nations and Ancestors Working with and for Ancestors: Collaboration in the Care and Study of Ancestral Remains 2020 1 London Routledge

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Authors
Rogers-LaVanne, M. P., Bader, A. C., de Flamingh, A., Saboowala, S., Smythe, C., Atchison, B., Moulton, N., Wilson, A., Wildman, D. E., Boraas, A., Uddin, M., Worl, R., & Malhi, R. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • Sealaska Heritage Institute (US)
  • Navajo Language Academy (US)
  • Heritage Foundation (US)
  • University of South Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Malhi, Ripan S.
Venue
International Journal for Equity in Health
Published
2023-09-08
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
182-182
ISSN
1475-9276 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4386510931
Cited by
10
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2
FWCI
2.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal for Equity in Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (1620239)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
Keywords
historical trauma, DNA methylation, epigenetics, Alaska Natives, Indigenous health, cultural identification, well-being, historical loss, community-engaged research, social determinants of health, colonial violence, health disparities
MeSH terms
Stakeholder Participation, Historical Trauma, Indigenous Peoples, Alaska, Community Participation, Humans, Methylation

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