The Power of Education – Living Longer, Ageing Slower.
The ability to attain higher levels of education has been associated with longer and healthier lives. This well-established correlation between education and health is thought to arise from factors such as access to better employment opportunities, healthier lifestyles, and improved healthcare.
Emerging research suggests that education may also influence the biological ageing process itself.
This study investigated whether individuals who achieved higher levels of education than their parents (known as upward educational mobility) would also exhibit a slower pace of biological ageing and reduced mortality risk. To test their hypothesis, researchers used the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock, a new tool that measures rates of biological ageing through molecular markers.
Educational Mobility and the Pace of Ageing
In this prospective cohort study, researchers analysed data from 3101 participants across three generations of the Framingham Heart Study. Intergenerational educational mobility was assessed by comparing participants’ highest education level with their parents. DNA samples were examined from 1652 participants in the Offspring cohort (collected between 2005 and 2008) and 1449 in the Gen3 cohort (collected between 2009 and 2011). The rate of biological ageing was measured using the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock, which examines DNA methylation patterns in blood.
The results revealed that participants with greater upward educational mobility exhibited a slower pace of biological ageing. DunedinPACE scores were lower in those with higher educational gains compared with their parents. This association was consistent across both cohorts. To validate the findings, analyses were repeated using four additional well-established epigenetic clocks. DunedinPACE remained the most sensitive and reliable in detecting differences related to educational mobility.
The findings were further supported by family fixed-effects regression, which showed that individuals with greater educational mobility also had a slower pace of ageing than their siblings. This study highlights education as a powerful social determinant of health, linking generational educational improvements to measurable biological differences and improved life outcomes. (See Figure 2 of the cited publication for associations of educational mobility with pace of ageing.)
The Link Between Education, Ageing and Survival
The study further explored whether a slower pace of biological ageing mediated the relationship between educational mobility and longevity. In the Offspring cohort, over 15 years of follow-up, 402 participants died.
Individuals who attained more education than their parents had a significantly lower risk of death (HR=0.89 [95% CI, 0.81–0.98]; P=.01). Mediation analysis revealed that a slower pace of biological ageing, as measured by DunedinPACE, accounted for approximately 50% of this association (indirect effect HR=0.93 [95% CI, 0.90–0.95]).
These results persisted even when controlling for shared family background and genetics, suggesting that the benefits of education reflect genuine impacts on health and biological resilience.
Not So Fast
One limitation of this study is that the Framingham Heart Study population is predominantly White, limiting the generalisability of the findings to more diverse racial and ethnic groups. Additionally, because many participants had already attained relatively high levels of education, the benefits of upward mobility may be underestimated in populations with lower baseline attainment.
Although sibling comparisons addressed many family-level confounders, unmeasured early-life factors (such as childhood adversity) could have influenced the outcomes.
Finally, while DunedinPACE is a powerful tool, no single biological measure can fully capture the complex nature of ageing, emphasising the need for replication in broader and more varied cohorts.
Why Does It Matter?
This research underscores education as a powerful lever for improving public health and promoting healthier ageing. By demonstrating that upward educational mobility can slow biological ageing and lower mortality risk, the study strengthens the case for investing in educational policies and programmes, particularly for disadvantaged populations.
Early educational interventions could have profound long-term health benefits, potentially reducing the burden of ageing-related diseases.
Additionally, the use of biological ageing measures, such as DunedinPACE, offers a practical means to evaluate the effectiveness of social and health interventions before clinical disease becomes apparent.
Take-Home Messages
1. Upward educational mobility is associated with a slower pace of biological ageing, as measured by DNA methylation patterns.
2. Higher education than one’s parents is linked to a lower risk of mortality as measured over a period of 15 years.
3. Investing in education could significantly improve public health and reduce health inequalities.
Guest author: Hassan Khan, MSc
Reviewer: Barbara Fahmy, MS OTR, MPA
This article was written as part of a series of ‘journal club’ summaries for Scientific Writers Ltd and is based on the following publication.
Title: Educational Mobility, Pace of Aging, and Lifespan Among Participants in the Framingham Heart Study
First Author: Graf G.H., et al.
Journal: JAMA Network Open
Date online: 1 March 2024
