A new study reveals that salivary uric acid—a stress-related biomarker—is linked to accelerated cellular aging among African Americans, particularly younger adults and men. Researchers found that higher levels of uric acid were associated with shorter telomere length, a marker of biological aging and risk for age-related diseases.
The study, published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, examined how age and gender intersect to shape health outcomes within the African American community. “Among men, uric acid consistently predicted shorter telomeres regardless of discrimination exposure,” the authors noted, suggesting a direct biological vulnerability. In contrast, the relationship among women was more complex: uric acid predicted longer telomeres under low discrimination but reversed under high discrimination conditions.
These findings highlight how overlapping social identities—such as race, gender, and age—can interact with stress and biology in distinct ways. African American men, especially younger ones, often face more intense and unpredictable forms of discrimination, including police abuse and disrespectful treatment. Such stressors are known to trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, which can erode telomeres and accelerate aging.
The researchers argue that treating African Americans as a monolithic group obscures important within-group differences. “Intersectionality operates through multiple pathways,” they write, calling for future studies to explore targeted interventions that address both biological and social stressors.
See: “Age and Gender Intersectionality Among African Americans: Salivary Uric Acid is Associated with Shorter Telomere Length in Younger Adults and Men” (August 30, 2025)
