Emotional Distress Linked to Faster Biological Aging in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sociologist Christina Kamis finds that long-term exposure to neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with accelerated biological aging, with emotional distress—particularly anxiety—playing a significant role.

Analyzing data from more than 1,440 Wisconsin residents, the research shows that decades of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods were linked to faster aging as measured by multiple epigenetic “clocks,” which assess biological age based on DNA methylation patterns. The findings suggest that psychological distress accounts for a meaningful portion of the relationship between neighborhood conditions and accelerated aging.

“Prolonged exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage appears to speed up biological aging, and some of this effect operates through increases in psychological symptoms,” Kamis said.

Published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, the study incorporated detailed residential histories spanning up to five decades, allowing researchers to assess cumulative neighborhood exposure—an approach rarely possible in prior studies. Among psychological factors examined, anxiety emerged as the strongest mediator linking neighborhood disadvantage to accelerated aging.

The findings highlight the importance of addressing both structural inequalities and mental health to reduce long-term health disparities associated with where people live.

Source: https://news.illinois.edu/your-neighborhood-plus-emotional-stress-may-be-aging-you-prematurely/