The study, published in The Lancet, analyzed data from 1,160 children aged between six and 11 across Europe. The children’s family affluence was evaluated using an international scale that considered factors such as having their own room and the number of vehicles in their household.
The children were divided into groups based on their affluence and their average telomere length in white blood cells was measured using blood samples, while stress hormone cortisol was measured from urine samples.
Telomeres are structures found in chromosomes that play a crucial role in cellular aging and DNA integrity. Their degradation is associated with aging.
Research suggests a connection between telomere length and chronic diseases, and stress can impact telomere length.
The study found that children from high-affluence families had telomeres that were 5% longer on average than children from low-affluence backgrounds. Girls had longer telomeres than boys, with an average difference of 5.6%, and children with a higher body mass index (BMI) had shorter telomeres.
Children from medium and high-affluence families had cortisol levels between 15.2% and 22.8% lower than children from low-affluence backgrounds.
The authors of the study acknowledged some limitations, emphasizing that the findings should not be interpreted as a direct link between affluence and genetics, but rather as the impact of the environment on aging markers and long-term health.
Dr. Oliver Robinson from Imperial College’s School of Public Health, the study’s senior author, highlighted that family affluence is connected to biological factors related to cellular aging, suggesting that children’s economic circumstances can have long-term effects on their health.
Robinson stated that for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, their biology may be negatively affected compared to those with more advantages in early life. Not addressing these disparities can lead to less healthy and shorter lives.
According to Dr. Kendal Marston from Imperial’s School of Public Health and the study’s first author, chronic stress impacts biological health, with research showing that stressed animals have shorter telomeres. The study found a link between affluence and telomere length, which is related to lifespan and health in adulthood. Children from less affluent backgrounds may experience greater psychosocial stress due to factors such as shared bedrooms or a lack of resources for education.
