Research indicates that biological clocks - based on DNA patterns - measure health trajectories rather than chronological age.
Findings suggest lifestyle adjustments, including diet and exercise, can promote youthfulness. However, access to these resources diminishes under financial pressure, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
Using data from nearly 66,000 individuals across 23 countries, the latest epigenetic clocks showed the strongest correlations with poverty and racism, highlighting their interconnected impacts on health.
The disparities extend into adulthood, confirming that early socioeconomic disadvantages carry long-term health implications. Racial disparities in biological aging were noted, particularly between White and Black individuals, pointing to the broader impacts of racism intersecting with health outcomes.