Economic disadvantage can have a lasting impact on children, affecting their quality and length of life, according to a new study led by researchers at Imperial College London. The study, which looked at over 1,000 European children, found that children from less privileged backgrounds had shorter telomeres—a biomarker for aging—in their blood cells. This biological imprint of socioeconomic status could potentially set disadvantaged children on a trajectory towards increased risk of disease and early mortality compared to their more affluent peers.
Published in the journal eBioMedicine, the study is the largest to date to explore the relationship between economic status and the aging trajectory of children. Dr. Oliver Robinson, the senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of addressing these disparities early in a child’s life to protect their long-term health.
Telomeres, which are protective caps at the end of chromosomes, shorten with age and are linked to biological aging. The researchers analyzed data from children aged 6 to 11 in six European countries, categorizing them based on family affluence levels. Children from high affluence backgrounds were found to have longer telomeres on average compared to those from low affluence backgrounds. Girls also had longer telomeres than boys, and children with higher body mass index had shorter telomeres.
While the study couldn’t directly link cortisol levels (a stress hormone) to telomere length, it did demonstrate a clear association between family affluence and telomere length. Children from less affluent backgrounds may experience greater psychosocial stress, which could contribute to the biological wear and tear observed in their cells.
The researchers acknowledge some limitations to the study, such as the reliance on relative telomere length rather than absolute length and the narrow range of economic backgrounds examined. Future studies could explore these relationships in a wider socioeconomic range and consider other contributing factors like dietary intake.
Overall, the findings underscore the need for public health policies to reduce health inequalities and provide all children with equal opportunities for a healthy start in life. By addressing these disparities early on, we can help ensure that every child has the chance to live a long and healthy life.
