How socioeconomic status affects biological aging in adults
Official title: Socioeconomic status across the life course and epigenetic age acceleration in adulthood: Evidence from two generations of a Filipino birth cohort study
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-10900226 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a person's financial situation growing up affects how quickly they age biologically as adults, focusing on a group of people from the Philippines, to help us understand the lasting impact of early life circumstances on health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $43,785 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AG084273-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10900226 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly those who have experienced varying SES throughout their lives.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced significant variations in socioeconomic status may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how socioeconomic status (SES) throughout a person's life influences biological aging in adulthood. By examining a Filipino birth cohort, the study aims to understand the relationship between early life SES and epigenetic age acceleration, which is a measure of how quickly a person's biological age progresses compared to their chronological age. The research utilizes advanced techniques like DNA methylation analysis to identify markers of aging and health outcomes. This approach helps to uncover the long-term effects of socioeconomic conditions on health, independent of adult lifestyle choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions for age-related diseases linked to socioeconomic factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in linking socioeconomic status to biological aging, suggesting that this research builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Watson, Elijah Jiles — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Watson, Elijah Jiles
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.