Researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health have uncovered a critical link between interpersonal discrimination and accelerated biological aging. The study, led by Adolfo Cuevas, assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, sheds light on a potential root cause of disparities in aging-related illness and death.
The research, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity-Health, reveals that experiencing discrimination hastens the aging process, contributing to health disparities. Discrimination based on identity factors such as race, gender, weight, or disability increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression. Chronic activation of the body’s stress response likely plays a role in these health outcomes.
The study analyzed DNA methylation—a marker of biological impact—using blood samples and surveys from nearly 2,000 U.S. adults. Participants reported three forms of discrimination: everyday, major, and workplace. Everyday and major discrimination consistently correlated with accelerated biological aging. Workplace discrimination also had an impact, albeit less severe.
Cuevas emphasizes the urgency of addressing discrimination to mitigate health disparities. As he states, “Experiencing discrimination appears to hasten the process of aging, which may be contributing to disease and early mortality.”
See “Discrimination May Accelerate Aging” (May 9, 2024)
