Genetic insights into socioeconomic inequalities and adiposity-related interventions for reducing accelerated biological aging
Authors' conclusion
Our findings provide robust genetic evidence that higher SES mitigates biological aging, with adiposity traits mediating a significant proportion of this effect. These results underscore the importance of addressing socioeconomic inequalities and implementing adiposity-related health interventions to counteract accelerated biological aging.
Study context
- Population
- Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data largely from the UK Biobank
- Comparison
- Genetically determined socioeconomic status (SES) (education, household income, occupational attainment) and biological aging, mediated by adiposity traits
- Outcome
- Biological aging measured by BioAgeAccel and PhenoAgeAccel
Methodological detailstwo-step Mendelian randomization (MR), GWAS summary data
- Two-step MR
- GWAS summary data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Causal effect of SES on biological aging
- Education and BioAgeAccel, β
- −0.38 (95% CI −0.48, −0.28)
- Household income and BioAgeAccel, β
- −0.41 (95% CI −0.62, −0.20)
- Education and PhenoAgeAccel, β
- −1.30 (95% CI −1.56, −1.04)
- Household income and PhenoAgeAccel, β
- −1.72 (95% CI −2.28, −1.15)
- Occupational attainment and PhenoAgeAccel, β
- −0.50 (95% CI −0.79, −0.22)
Further findings
Mediation by adiposity traits
- Proportion of household income effect on BioAgeAccel mediated by body mass index (BMI)
- 23.73%
- Proportion of household income effect on BioAgeAccel mediated by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)
- 20.79%
- Range of BMI and WHR mediating effects on PhenoAgeAccel for education, household income and occupational attainment
- 15.20% to 53.42%
Original publication
Genetic insights into socioeconomic inequalities and adiposity-related interventions for reducing accelerated biological aging. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 10 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →