Where you live might do more than just shape your surroundings—it could actually change how your body ages. A study of 370 healthy adults in the New Haven, Connecticut area found that living in neighborhoods with higher levels of deprivation is linked to accelerated biological aging.
Researchers used epigenetic clocks—special tools that look at DNA markers to estimate biological age—to see how environment impacts the body. They found that people in more disadvantaged neighborhoods showed signs of faster aging. This connection was also tied to higher levels of lifetime adversity and lower levels of educational attainment.
The study also highlighted how these challenges affect different people. For example, the link between neighborhood deprivation and certain aging markers was stronger among Black participants compared to White participants. This suggests that environmental stress and cumulative hardship might contribute to racial disparities in how we age.
It is important to remember that this study looked at associations, not direct cause and effect. While the data shows a clear link between neighborhood hardship and biological aging, more research is needed to understand exactly how these environmental factors drive these changes.
