How Your Education Could Be Aging You – Or Keeping You Young
What’s this about?
A new study from researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (my alma mater!) has revealed something surprising: how much schooling you completed may actually affect how fast your body ages.
The study, titled “Increasing Educational Inequality in Biological Aging Among U.S. Adults Aged 50-79 From 1988-1994 to 2015-2018,” examined whether people with more education are biologically younger and whether that gap has changed over time.
Rather than looking at chronological age (how many birthdays you’ve had), researchers looked at biological age, which reflects how old your body acts based on factors like inflammation, organ function, and disease risk.
When and Who?
This study analyzed data from two time periods, 1988 to 1994 and 2015 to 2018, using the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
It included 9,701 adults aged 50–79, split between 5,415 participants from the earlier years and 4,286 from the later years. Both men and women were represented.
What did they find?
The results were striking.
Overall, everyone is aging a bit slower biologically than people did in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a sign of progress in public health and longevity.
But here’s the catch:
- The slowdown in biological aging was much greater for people with higher levels of education. This is spot on with what I learned in my gerontology education.
- In the late 1980s, the biological aging gap between adults with less than a high school education and those with a college degree was about one year.
- By the mid-2010s, that gap had nearly doubled to two years.
The researchers also looked at lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and medication use, but these did not explain the widening difference. Education itself, and the economic, social, and lifestyle advantages that often come with it, seemed to be the key factor.
In short: the body’s clock ticks more slowly for those with higher education.
Why does this matter?
This finding highlights that health inequalities go deeper than access to healthcare or individual habits. They’re baked into the very biology of aging.
A two-year difference in biological age can mean a higher risk of disease, disability, or earlier death for people with less education. It’s not just about living longer, it’s about aging better.
On a larger scale, this widening “aging gap” shows how education, a powerful social determinant of health, can shape who gets to enjoy the benefits of medical and technological advances.
Education often determines career opportunities, income, healthcare access, and even the environments we live in…all of which ripple through the body over time.
What am I doing about it?
Reading this study reminded me that learning isn’t just about career advancement, it’s about longevity. That’s why in gerontology we always talk about the benefits of “life long learning”.
Even if you can’t change how many years of school you completed, you can choose to be a lifelong learner. I’m doubling down on habits that keep both my mind and body young, learning Portuguese, reading new research, taking courses, staying curious, and writing about what I learn so others can benefit too.
I’m also paying attention to the “whole health” factors linked to biological age: stress, sleep, social connection, and purpose. Those matter as much as any degree.
And on a broader level, I’m advocating for better access to education and lifelong learning, because this study shows it’s not just about economic mobility, it’s about health equity.
Practical Tips
Here are some simple ways to support healthy biological aging, regardless of your formal education level:
- Keep learning, always. Take a class, learn a skill, or dive into a new topic. Don’t be intimidated by technology…embrace it. Cognitive stimulation helps maintain a youthful brain and resilient body.
- Move your body daily. Regular exercise, even brisk walking, reduces inflammation and slows aging markers. Follow my 21 day exercise plan here
- Eat for longevity. Focus on whole foods, colorful plants, and lean proteins. Nutrition is one of the strongest influences on biological aging. Download my online cookbook Eating For Longevity to get started.
- Sleep and manage stress. Chronic stress and poor sleep accelerate biological aging. Practice breathwork, mindfulness, or journaling. This is how I manage stress in a day and my favorite sleep hacks.
- Stay socially engaged. Connection is medicine. Isolation speeds up aging; meaningful relationships protect against it.
- Advocate and uplift. Support policies and programs that improve access to education and lifelong learning. What’s good for society’s mind is good for its collective longevity.
- Track your health markers. Get regular check-ups and consider a biological age test to measure your progress. Here are some of my favorites.
Education doesn’t just shape your mind, it shapes how your body ages. But the good news is, learning and growth never have to stop. Every new skill, idea, or conversation you engage in is an investment in a younger, healthier you.Reference: Newcomb, B. (2025). Study: Education Gap Linked to Differences in Biological Aging. USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. USC.