A recent study from NYU School of Global Public Health reveals that discrimination may accelerate biological aging, contributing significantly to racial and ethnic health disparities. Conducted on 1,967 Midlife in the United States participants, the research found that individuals who reported experiences of everyday, major, and workplace discrimination showcased a faster pace of aging.
The effects were notably pronounced among White participants, who exhibited a stronger correlation between discrimination and biological aging, compared to their Black counterparts.
The study utilized advanced measurements such as the DunedinPACE, PhenoAge, and GrimAge2 epigenetic clocks. Results indicated that individuals facing greater discrimination displayed older biological ages when compared with peers who experienced less. Furthermore, smoking status and body mass index were shown to account for about half of the observed relationship.
Despite Black participants reporting higher levels of discrimination overall, they tended to display older biological age and faster biological aging. This suggests a multifaceted impact of discrimination that may compound health disparities, highlighting the urgent need for interventions addressing these inequities.
Researchers advocate for both structural and individual-level interventions to mitigate the effects of discrimination. These measures not only aim to reduce the prevalence of discrimination but also encourage adaptive coping strategies, potentially leading to healthier aging across racial and ethnic groups in America.
See “Discrimination May Accelerate Aging” (May 9, 2024)
