A new study, published in Alzheimers & Dementia, reveals that Black Americans are aging faster than their white counterparts.
Researchers at Penn Medicine examined DNA-level changes that signal accelerated cellular aging, and found that these changes were “significantly” higher in Black Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites. There are many factors involved in how fast a person ages, but the study found that inequalities in access and availability to socioeconomic resources are a main cause of accelerated aging in older Black adults.
Income levels, availability and access to healthcare, education levels, and even neighborhood characteristics were among the factors that the study linked to Black Americans being, on average, about 16 months older — biologically speaking — than white Americans.
Previous studies have linked higher rates of health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes to socioeconomic disparities between Black and white Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Black Americans are twice as likely as whites to die of heart disease, and 50% more likely to have high blood pressure.
Some progress has been made in attempting to close gaps in healthcare access and availability across racial groups, but CDC says more work has to be done. Some suggestions the agency offers to even the health playing field include:
- Improving housing and other socioeconomic disparities among racial groups
- Increasing access to transportation for healthcare appointments
- Educating healthcare teams on disparities and how to overcome them
- Enlisting the help of community and faith organizations to improve adherence to care plans
- Promote better wellness care and attendance and follow-up visits
The study concluded by urging additional study into how these factors contribute to accelerated aging and, perhaps more importantly, what can be done to reverse these trends.
