Findings from a major international study revealed that political systems, social conditions, and environmental exposures significantly influence the rate of biological aging. Researchers H. Hernandez et al. analyzed data from 161981 adults in 40 countries to examine the effects of various risk and protective factors to derive new insights into the global dynamics of aging. Their study was published on 14 July 2025 in Nature Medicine.
Global Study Reveals Political and Social Drivers of Aging
The study measured aging through biobehavioral age gaps or BBAGs. These gaps reflect the difference between the chronological age of a person and their estimated biological age. BBAGs were calculated using a combination of health indicators like protective and risk variables. The results showed that BBAGs were highly predictive of the actual age of an individual.
Participants in Europe displayed the slowest biological aging. Those from Egypt and South Africa showed the most accelerated rates. Asian and Latin American nations fell in between. The regional differences were statistically significant. This underscored how geography and related systemic factors can influence population-wide health and longevity outcomes.
Socioeconomic conditions also played a central role in aging patterns. Those from lower-income backgrounds were more likely to age biologically faster than their wealthier counterparts. This trend was particularly evident in Eastern and Southern Europe, where accelerated aging correlated strongly with poverty and reduced access to supportive social infrastructure.
The study also examined the exposome or the totality of environmental exposures throughout the lifespan of an individual. Harmful physical conditions, such as air pollution, and adverse social experiences, including economic inequality and migration, were identified as key contributors to accelerated aging across global populations, according to the researchers.
Sociopolitical factors were among the strongest predictors of biological aging. Limited political representation, restricted electoral freedoms, weak democratic institutions, and gender inequality were all linked to faster aging. These suggest that politics directly affect the health outcomes of individuals, possibly through stress and reduced access to health-related resources.
Note that participants with larger BBAGs were also found to experience greater cognitive and functional decline over time. These individuals showed significantly reduced memory, mobility, and independence in daily tasks. The study highlights the long-term consequences of living in disadvantaged environments on brain and physical function in older age.
The findings from the study fundamentally underscore that aging is not merely a biological process but also a reflection of physical, social, and political conditions. Substantial disparities exist across countries. This suggests that improving governance, reducing inequality, and protecting the environment could help promote healthier aging on a global scale.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Hernandez, H., Santamaria-Garcia, H., Moguilner, S., Farina, F. R., Legaz, A., Prado, P., Cuadros, J., Gonzalez, L., Gonzalez-Gomez, R., Migeot, J., Coronel-Oliveros, C., Tagliazucchi, E., Maito, M. A., Godoy, M. E., Cruzat, J., Shaheen, A., Farombi, T., Salazar, D., Da Ros, L. U., … Ibanez, A. 2025. “The Exposome of Healthy and Accelerated Aging Across 40 Countries. Nature Medicine. DOI: 1038/s41591-025-03808-2