For those of us passionate about social justice and equality, it stands to reason that children growing up in disadvantaged backgrounds may struggle to reach the opportunities and privilege others take for granted. We also know that people from deprived areas tend to have worse health outcomes throughout life than people from better off communities [1]. Poverty has always had clear links to health, but now a biological explanation for part of this may be coming to light.
Long-term research carried out by Duke University has revealed that growing up in a deprived environment can affect your epigenetics – the way your genes are expressed. The study, published this month in JAMA Network Open, followed nearly 2000 children born in England and Wales, from birth to age 18. Researchers found that those growing up in communities marked by socio-economic deprivation, social disconnection and danger showed differences in the chemical compounds and proteins which regulate gene activity. In particular, these differences were noted in genes connected to chronic inflammation, exposure to tobacco smoke, outdoor air pollution, and lung cancer. This altered epigenome puts these individuals at greater risk of poor health later in life.
The study gathered a wide range of long-term neighbourhood data to enable it to draw conclusions about the physical, social, economic, and health and safety characteristics of the children’s neighbourhoods. Data was gathered from government sources, detailed surveys, the criminal justice system and focused observation of neighbourhoods across decades. This data was analysed in conjunction with blood drawn from the participants once they reached the age of 18.
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