Researchers investigate whether experiencing discrimination is associated with accelerated biological processes of aging.
By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.May 16 2024Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. In a recent study published in Brain , Behavior, & Immunity - Health, researchers investigate whether experiencing discrimination is associated with accelerated biological processes of aging.
The ‘biological weathering’ hypothesis suggests that, due to persistent exposure to psychosocial stress, people facing discrimination might experience accelerated aging that makes them more susceptible to illness and premature death.
DNAm also responds to the aging process, as several related biomarkers have been used to predict age and are known as ‘clocks.’ The current study used these epigenetic clocks to explore the associations between workplace, major, and everyday discrimination and biological aging, in addition to the role of body mass index and smoking as mediators in this relationship.
Biological aging was assessed through epigenetic clocks that estimated the progress and pace of biological aging from the DNAm states of white blood cells. Workplace, major, and everyday discrimination was evaluated using questionnaires, with higher scores indicating higher exposures to discrimination.
Over 75% of the study cohort had attended college, and nearly 70% were employed. The average everyday, workplace, and major discrimination scores were 13.01, 10.87, and 1.15, respectively. Conclusions The study findings indicate that midlife adults who report higher exposure to discrimination may age faster and exhibit greater biological age. Major and everyday discrimination showed stronger associations with biological aging than workplace discrimination.
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