Diverse Factors Shape Biological Aging Across Races

Introduction

Researchers have long been interested in understanding the factors that influence the pace of

, as this can provide valuable insights into health and disease risk. This study, conducted by a team of scientists, investigated how both neighborhood-level and individual-level

social determinants of health (SDOH)

The conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that can affect their health and well-being, such as their income, education, and neighborhood.

 

are associated with a measure of biological aging called the

DunedinPACE epigenetic clock

A way to measure how quickly a person's body is aging based on changes in their DNA. This can help identify if someone is aging faster or slower than expected.

 

. The study focused on a diverse population of Japanese American, Native Hawaiian, and White adults living in Hawaii.

The researchers analyzed data from the

study, which was established in the 1990s to explore the relationship between race, ethnicity, and the development of cancer and chronic diseases. For the current analysis, the researchers looked at a subset of 376 healthy adults from Hawaii who self-identified as belonging to one of the three racial/ethnic groups mentioned above.

Key Findings

The study's findings revealed some intriguing patterns in biological aging across the different racial and ethnic groups:

1. Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Biological Aging: The researchers found that individuals living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status (NSES) tended to have higher DunedinPACE scores, indicating a faster pace of biological aging.

2. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Biological Aging: Native Hawaiian participants had the highest average DunedinPACE score of 1.31, suggesting significantly accelerated biological aging compared to White participants (1.22) and Japanese American participants (1.25). Over 56% of Native Hawaiian participants were classified as having "fast" biological aging, defined as a DunedinPACE score of 1.29 or higher.

3. Mitigating the Impact of Low NSES: The researchers discovered that certain individual-level factors, such as higher educational attainment, a healthier diet, and more physical activity, appeared to help offset the negative impact of living in a low-NSES neighborhood on biological aging. However, the strength of these

   mitigating effects
   Factors that can help reduce or lessen the negative impact of something, in this case, things that may slow down the faster aging process caused by living in a less wealthy neighborhood.

    
   varied across the different racial and ethnic groups.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Biological Aging

The Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) study provided the researchers with a unique opportunity to explore biological aging in a diverse population. By analyzing blood samples from the 376 participants, the researchers were able to calculate DunedinPACE scores, which serve as a measure of the pace of biological aging.

The results showed that Native Hawaiian participants had the highest average DunedinPACE score, indicating that this group was experiencing significantly accelerated biological aging compared to the Japanese American and White participants. In fact, over 56% of the Native Hawaiian participants were classified as having "fast" biological aging, defined as a DunedinPACE score of 1.29 or higher. In contrast, the proportions of participants with "fast" biological aging were lower in the Japanese American (41.3%) and White (35.1%) groups.

These findings suggest that there may be important social, behavioral, and environmental factors that contribute to the observed differences in biological aging across racial and ethnic lines. Understanding these factors could help researchers and healthcare providers develop more targeted interventions to address health disparities.

Factors Associated with Biological Aging

The researchers examined a range of neighborhood- and individual-level factors in relation to the participants' DunedinPACE scores. Their analysis revealed several key insights:

1. neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES)
   The overall level of wealth, education, and employment in a person's local community or neighborhood. This can impact the resources and opportunities available to the people living there.

    
   : Individuals living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status tended to have higher DunedinPACE scores, indicating a faster pace of biological aging. This finding suggests that the social and environmental conditions in one's neighborhood can have a significant impact on the body's aging process.

2. Individual-level Factors: The researchers found that certain individual-level factors, such as higher educational attainment, a healthier diet, and more physical activity, were associated with lower DunedinPACE scores, indicating a slower pace of biological aging. Interestingly, the strength of these mitigating effects varied across the different racial and ethnic groups.

For example, the researchers found that moderate to vigorous physical activity was associated with lower DunedinPACE scores only among the Native Hawaiian participants, regardless of their neighborhood's socioeconomic status. This suggests that targeted interventions focused on promoting physical activity may be particularly beneficial for this population in terms of slowing down the pace of biological aging.

Implications and Conclusions

This study highlights the complex interplay between neighborhood-level and individual-level social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping the pace of biological aging. The findings suggest that the use of

, such as the DunedinPACE, could be a valuable tool for assessing disease risk and identifying sociobehavioral factors that may help protect against accelerated aging.

By understanding the factors that contribute to racial and ethnic differences in biological aging, researchers and healthcare providers can work to develop more targeted interventions and strategies to address health disparities. This could involve implementing neighborhood-level initiatives to improve socioeconomic conditions, as well as individual-level programs that promote healthy behaviors, such as physical activity and a balanced diet.

Overall, this study underscores the importance of considering the complex social, behavioral, and environmental factors that shape the aging process, particularly in diverse populations. By addressing these factors, we can work towards a more equitable and healthier future for all.