Columbia University Irving Medical Center
A recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center revealed a significant correlation between educational attainment and the pace of aging, as well as longevity. The study, based on data from the Framingham Heart Study, indicated that individuals who experienced upward educational mobility tended to age more slowly and enjoy longer lives compared to those with lower educational achievements.
The Framingham Heart Study, an extensive observational research initiative spanning three generations since its inception in 1948, provided the foundational data for this investigation. This study marks the first instance where educational mobility has been linked to biological aging and mortality rates.
Dr. [Name], the senior author of the study and an associate professor at Columbia Mailman School, emphasized the challenges in understanding the mechanisms behind the association between education and longevity. By applying the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock algorithm to genomic data from the Framingham Heart Study, the researchers determined that an additional two years of schooling correlated with a two to three percent deceleration in the aging process. This deceleration translated to a notable 10 percent reduction in the risk of mortality based on previous research findings.
The DunedinPACE epigenetic clock, developed by Columbia researchers, evaluates the pace of aging by analyzing DNA methylation marks in white blood cells. Acting as a “speedometer” for the aging process, DunedinPACE offers insights into how individuals’ bodies change over time.
The study, which involved 14,106 participants from the Framingham Heart Study across three generations, linked educational data between parents and children. By examining a subset of 3,101 participants, the researchers established connections between educational mobility, aging, and mortality. Additionally, for 2,437 participants with siblings, the study explored how differences in educational attainment within families impacted the pace of aging.
Gloria Graf, the lead author of the study and a PhD candidate at Columbia, highlighted the significance of educational mobility and sibling educational differences in understanding the effects of education on aging. The findings suggested that interventions promoting educational attainment could potentially slow biological aging processes and enhance longevity.
The study’s results indicated that individuals with higher educational mobility exhibited a slower pace of aging and a reduced risk of death. This trend persisted across generations and even within sibling comparisons, where siblings with greater educational mobility displayed a slower aging trajectory compared to their less-educated counterparts.
Co-authors of the study include researchers from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Butler Columbia Aging Center, Duke University, and the University of Cincinnati. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AG073402, AG073207, AG078627).