Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition, regular exercise, and frequent medical check-ups contributes to longevity. However, a recent study highlights an unexpected variable that may lie outside of our control: the educational attainment of our grandparents. Conducted by researchers from Drexel University alongside colleagues from the University of California and University of North Carolina, the findings were published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.
By analyzing data spanning three generations, which included the education levels of parents and grandparents as well as health data from parents and their children, the researchers discovered a statistically significant link between the educational background of grandparents and the epigenetic “real” age of their grandchildren. The term “real” age refers to how old a person is based on their health profile and cellular characteristics.
The research results indicated that grandchildren with college-educated grandparents exhibited slower biological aging (meaning they had a lower biological age compared to their chronological age) compared to those whose grandparents did not complete higher education. This conclusion was drawn using five distinct epigenetic clocks that assess biological age through DNA methylation—a process that changes with age—by analyzing saliva samples.
Lead author Agus Surachman, PhD, an assistant professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health, explained, “There has been an established connection between social and socioeconomic factors, along with childhood adversities, and health trajectories.” He noted that while animal studies have shown health can be inherited across generations, this new human data confirms that the socioeconomic conditions of grandparents also significantly affect the health of their grandchildren.
Past research has shown that trauma experienced by individuals, such as those during the Holocaust or the Tutsi genocide, can affect gene methylation in both survivors and their descendants. This study specifically addresses educational attainment—a common measure of social stress exposure—among the general population. The authors suggest that parents’ education levels are indicative of their children’s early life socioeconomic status and the social stressors they face.
According to Surachman, “The socioeconomic benefits experienced by parents during early life may lead to better health outcomes for their children, particularly through maternal lines. Recognizing the intergenerational transfer of social and health advantages prompts us to rethink our societal values. I advocate for increased investment in education and health, as these factors impact health outcomes even before birth.”
Epigenetic clocks serve as promising methods for estimating lifespan and can provide valuable insights regarding the likelihood of chronic illnesses and other health-related issues. Although testing can be expensive, costing hundreds of dollars, experts predict that costs will decline as technology advances.
The study recruited mothers from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study (NGHS 1) when they were between the ages of 9 and 10, then re-enrolled them three decades later for the National Growth and Health Study (NGHS 2) to collect health and education data, including information on their youngest child’s epigenetic aging, or biological age, ranging from ages 2 to 17.
The researchers considered various factors that might also impact child health, such as the age and sex of the grandchildren, children’s body mass index (BMI), and characteristics related to the mother—like her childhood family structure, health profile, and marital status.
In addition, the team sought to understand how maternal health could influence the connection between grandparent education and grandchild biological age. They analyzed the mother’s childhood and adult health data, focusing on parameters such as BMI and cardiovascular health to assess body inflammation. They found that maternal health accounted for a small portion (14.5%) of the relationship between grandparent education and the epigenetic age of grandchildren.
Senior author Elissa Epel, PhD, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, remarked, “The association between a grandparent’s socioeconomic background and a grandchild’s epigenetic age is a significant finding across generations. This opens up numerous possible explanations that warrant further investigation. For now, we acknowledge that poorer metabolic health in mothers partially mediates this relationship.”
The researchers plan to track this cohort as they reach adulthood, exploring predictors related to grandparents and parents, as well as analyzing social and psychological factors that accelerate epigenetic aging in individuals facing chronic health conditions such as breast cancer and chronic kidney disease. However, the team emphasizes the need for further research to discover the various elements that shape youth health outcomes.
“In the U.S., there is often an overemphasis on personal responsibility regarding health, accompanied by a tendency to blame individuals for their health challenges,” noted Surachman. “In truth, health is a complex issue influenced by many factors—some of which are entirely beyond our control, including the genetics we inherit. I hope this research encourages greater empathy toward ourselves and our communities.”
In addition to Surachman and Epel, the research team included Elissa Hamlat from the University of California, San Francisco; Anthony S. Zannas from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Steve Horvath from University of California, Los Angeles; and Barbara Laraia from the University of California, Berkeley.
The study received funding from the Drexel FIRST (Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation) Program, various grants from the National Institutes of Health, and contributions from the LSP Family Foundation.
