A new study led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health reveals a troubling connection between structural racism and increased rates of heart disease, even as the agency itself faces criticism for downplaying such research. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study found that neighborhoods with high levels of structural racism—measured through factors like education, housing, employment, and poverty—had significantly higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.
“The people who live in that neighborhood, regardless of their race, are experiencing those outcomes,” said co-author Zachary Dyer. His index shows that living in areas shaped by racialized policies can negatively affect health, regardless of individual background.
Despite these findings, the NIH’s current leadership has labeled research on structural racism as “ideological” and “unscientific.” Ongoing litigation and a government shutdown have further silenced the agency’s response. “When science is silenced or delayed, people suffer,” said Charles Rogers, another co-author.
The study’s release comes at a time when federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion research is under attack. Outside experts stressed the importance of continuing this work, even if current measures are imperfect. “Refusing to study that truth does not make it go away; it only deepens the harm,” Rogers added.
The authors included a disclaimer distancing their findings from official NIH views, but their message is clear: structural racism is a public health issue, and ignoring it risks lives in vulnerable communities.
See: “NIH shuns studying racism and health. Its own research finds a link” (October 31, 2025) https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/31/structural-racism-impacts-health-nih-scientists-publish-new-study/
