Open AccessSocioeconomic Disadvantage and the Pace of Biological Aging in Children
Author(s) -
Laurel Raffington,
Daniel W. Belsky,
Meeraj Kothari,
Margherita Malanchini,
Elliot M. TuckerDrob,
K. Paige Harden
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pediatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.611
H-Index - 345
eISSN - 1098-4275
pISSN - 0031-4005
DOI - 10.1542/peds.2020-024406
Subject(s) - pace , disadvantaged , disadvantage , socioeconomic status , medicine , gerontology , psychological intervention , disease , demography , environmental health , population , psychiatry , geography , economic growth , geodesy , sociology , political science , law , economics
Children who grow up in socioeconomic disadvantage face increased burden of disease and disability throughout their lives. One hypothesized mechanism for this increased burden is that early-life disadvantage accelerates biological processes of aging, increasing vulnerability to subsequent disease. To evaluate this hypothesis and the potential impact of preventive interventions, measures are needed that can quantify early acceleration of biological aging in childhood.