Social disadvantage can accelerate ageing and increase disease risk

University College London

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People with favourable socioeconomic conditions, such as high incomes or education levels, face a reduced risk of age-related diseases and show fewer signs of biological ageing than peers of the same age, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

Social inequalities appear to have a direct impact on the biological ageing process, according to the authors of the Nature Medicine paper.

The scientists found that people with more social advantages had fewer proteins in their blood that are linked to the ageing process, including those connected to inflammation and the immune system.

Lead author Professor Mika Kivimaki (UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences) said: “This study provides strong biological evidence that social conditions influence the pace of ageing. For decades, we’ve known that social advantage is linked to better health, but our findings suggest it may also slow down the ageing process itself.

“Our study highlights that healthy ageing is an achievable goal for society as a whole, as it is already a reality for people with favourable socioeconomic conditions.”

The study is based on four large longitudinal studies that have been tracking their participants for many years: the Whitehall II study in the UK (which is led by Professor Kivimaki as Director), the UK Biobank, the Finnish Public Sector Study (FPS), and the Atherosclerosis in Communities (ARIC) study in the US.* Together, these studies include over 800,000 participants.

The measures of social advantage included both early-life factors, such as education and father’s socioeconomic position, and adulthood indicators such as neighbourhood deprivation, occupational status, or household income.

The markers of ageing were measured by diagnoses for diseases known to be linked to ageing, and by blood tests measuring proteins circulating in the blood’s plasma, in a measurement called advanced plasma proteomics. Many proteins are known to impact the ageing process, while ageing also impacts the mix of proteins in the blood, so protein counts can reflect multiple age-related processes that may be occurring before the onset of any diseases.

Disease outcomes were determined over 10 years after the measures of social advantage for two of the cohorts, and over 20 years later for the Whitehall II and ARIC cohorts, to discover if early or mid-life social factors contributed to ageing many years later.

The researchers found that the risk of 66 age-related diseases was affected by social advantage. Averaged across the list of diseases, there was a 20% higher risk of disease for people with low socioeconomic status relative to high socioeconomic status, while after 15 years, those with low socioeconomic status had a similar number of age-related disease diagnoses as those in the high socioeconomic status group did after 20 years.

For some diseases, including type 2 diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, lung cancer and stroke, the risk was more than twice as high in the most disadvantaged group relative to the most advantaged.

The scientists found that levels of 14 plasma proteins were affected by socioeconomic advantage, including proteins known to regulate inflammatory and cellular stress responses. The researchers estimated that up to 39% of the reduced disease risk in socioeconomically advantaged people may be influenced by these proteins.

Co-author Professor Tony Wyss-Coray (Stanford University) explained: “Ageing is reflected in the makeup of proteins in our blood, which includes thousands of circulating proteins linked to biological ageing processes across multiple organ systems. These biomarkers are indicators of health that enable us to assess how social differences can dictate the pace of ageing.”

The researchers found evidence that changes to social standing can have a measurable impact on biological ageing, as people who progressed from low levels of education early in life to middling or high social advantage later in life had more favourable protein concentrations relative to those whose circumstances had not improved.

The researchers say that more research is needed to elucidate how exactly social factors can impact biological ageing.

Co-author Professor Dame Linda Partridge (UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing) explained: “While our study does not tell us why social advantage can slow the ageing process, other studies have suggested that it may be related to factors such as life stress, mental health, exposure to pollution or toxins, and behaviours such as smoking, drug and alcohol use, diet and exercise, as well as access to medical screenings, check-ups, vaccinations and medications.”

Another recent study led by the same researchers, published last month**, found that a blood test determining how much our organs have aged could predict the risk of age-related diseases decades in advance, which could help with preventative medicine for people showing signs of accelerated ageing.

Professor Kivimaki added: “Blood tests are able to pick up on signs of accelerated ageing, which could help us to determine who would likely benefit from targeted interventions to improve their health as they age.”

This study was supported by Wellcome, the Medical Research Council, the US National Institutes of Health, and the Research Council of Finland.

 

* Further detail on which measures came from which cohort study:

• Whitehall II: Early life social indicators: father’s occupation, education levels. Adulthood social indicators: neighbourhood deprivation, occupation. Outcomes: age-related proteins, age-related diseases, mortality.
• UK Biobank: Early life social indicator: education levels. Adulthood social indicator: neighbourhood deprivation. Outcomes: age-related diseases.
• Finnish Public Sector study: Early life social indicator: education levels. Adulthood social indicators: neighbourhood deprivation, occupation. Outcomes: age-related diseases.
• Atherosclerosis in Communities study: Early life social indicator: education levels. Adulthood social indicators: neighbourhood deprivation, income. Outcomes: age-related proteins, mortality.

** Related study from February 2025: Biological organ ages predict disease risk decades in advance

• www.ucl.ac.uk
• UCL News
• Whitehall II study
• Professor Mika Kivimaki’s academic profile
• UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences
• UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing, UCL Division of Biosciences

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Journal

Nature Medicine

DOI

10.1038/s41591-025-03563-4 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Social disadvantage accelerates aging

Article Publication Date

14-Mar-2025

 

Breakthrough in Wild Barley Genomics paves the way for climate-resilient crops

Murdoch University

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Contributing authors from Murdoch University's Western Crop Genetics Alliance and Murdoch University's Centre for Crop and Food Innovation inspect barley.

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Credit: Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Murdoch University

An international team of scientists from Australia and China has unveiled the first chromosome-scale genome of a wild barley species, with their findings offering direct implications for more sustainable agriculture and significant yield improvements for Australian grain production.

Led by researchers from Murdoch University and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), the groundbreaking study of the wild barley species Hordeum brevisubulatum -renowned for its exceptional tolerance to alkaline and saline soils – is a significant leap forward in harnessing crop wild relatives (CWRs) to combat soil degradation and the increasing prevalence of extreme weather events.

The study, published in Nature Plants, identified critical genetic adaptations, including the duplication of stress-response genes that enable efficient nutrient intake under alkaline stress. When overexpressed, these genes doubled in biomass and offered improved yields in harsh conditions.

The team also discovered that a fungal-derived gene previously known for disease resistance was found to reduce oxidative stress in saline-alkaline environments.

Following these findings, the team developed a new hexaploid crop, Tritordeum (AABBII), by replacing wheat’s ‘D’ subgenome with H. brevisubulatum’s I genome. This new crop has exhibited a remarkable 48% increase in nitrate uptake and a 28% increase in grain yield under stress compared to conventional wheat.

Speaking on the findings, Prof Chengdao Li, Director of the Western Crop Genetics Alliance and Corresponding Author of the study, said:

“Our findings offer transformative potential for Australia’s agricultural sector, particularly in regions like Western Australia and South Australia where there is significant dryland soil salinity. By breeding salinity-resistant grain crops, we can safeguard yields in drought-prone areas, reduce our costly reliance on fertilisers whilst maintaining productivity, and make a tangible step towards Australia’s 2030 sustainability targets.”

“Additionally, the extraordinary resilience of H. brevisubulatum’s I genome equips us with genetic tools to future-proof staple crops against climate extremes, ensuring the competitiveness of our grains sector.

Murdoch University Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of the Food Futures Institute, Professor Peter Davies, added that:

“This landmark study not only advances global understanding of plant stress adaptation, it also positions Australia at the forefront of climate-smart crop innovation. By accelerating the integration of wild barley’s genetic traits into breeding programs, researchers will be able to deliver new varieties within the next decade and offer timely solutions for farmers battling rising temperatures and soil degradation.

“We’re immensely proud of the significant contribution that Murdoch University researchers have played in this collaborative study. Congratulations to Prof Li, Co-first author Dr Yong Jia, Prof Rajeev Varshney, Dr Tianhua He, Dr Brett Chapman and Dr Vanika Garg for their respective contributions – their work underscores the urgency of conserving genetic resources and investing in genomic technologies to secure food production in a warming world,” he said.

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Journal

Nature Plants

DOI

10.1038/s41477-025-01942-w 

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Hordeum I genome unlocks adaptive evolution and genetic potential for crop improvement

Article Publication Date

14-Mar-2025

 

Earthquake rupture patterns improve the assessment of seismic hazard

The analysis of 31 earthquakes in the Marmara-Istanbul region shows preferred rupture directions associated with increased energy transport towards the megacity. This is important for hazard maps

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung

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Overview of the Marmara region, with the urban area of the Istanbul metropolis (red contour) and the Main Marmara Fault (red line). The orange circles represent the earthquakes for which directivity was estimated, with CL 1-4 indicating clusters of earthquakes. The black arrows represent the preferred rupture orientation. Closer analysis shows that the most repetitive orientation of rupture propagation is 85°N, hence towards Istanbul.

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Credit: Xiang Chen, GFZ

Summary

A new analysis of earthquake rupture directivity provides essential insights for seismic hazard and risk assessments in urban areas, particularly concerning the Main Marmara Fault near Istanbul in western Türkiye. Based on the correlation between rupture directivity and the direction of the transported seismic energy, a team of researchers led by Dr Xiang Cheng and Prof. Patricia Martínez-Garzón from the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany, has shown that quakes in the Marmara region transport a particularly large amount of energy and thus destructive force in the direction of Istanbul. Their study has been published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. They analysed 31 well-constrained ML ≥ 3.5 earthquakes in this region. The unveiled critical patterns could influence preparedness for future seismic events in one of the world’s most populous cities.

Background: The significance of rupture directivity for the transport of seismic energy during earthquakes

Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that can result in devastating impacts, especially in densely populated regions. Particularly, understanding the behavior of these seismic events is crucial for mitigating risks and enhancing preparedness. In recent years it became evident, that the energy transported by seismic waves can be stronger in certain directions – commonly in the direction of the rupture – and weaker in others which has important consequences for the damage potential in populated regions.

Analyses in the Sea of Marmara based on smaller earthquakes and modelling

A team of researchers led by Dr Xiang Cheng and Prof. Patricia Martínez-Garzón of the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany, investigated such directional effects in a new study. They analysed 31 well-constrained earthquakes of magnitude ML > 3.5 in the Sea of Marmara, west of the Istanbul megacity. Smaller earthquakes occur more often and can thus be studied in greater details, being a blueprint for ‘big ones’ that occur more rarely but with bigger implications.

In their study, the research team compared modelled and measured waveforms to calculate source mechanisms and then measured the earthquake durations at different directions to estimate directivity effects of moderate earthquakes in the Istanbul-Marmara region.

Findings: Increased transport of seismic energy in the direction of Istanbul

The findings reveal that most of the studied earthquakes below the Sea of Marmara west of Istanbul exhibit a predominantly eastward rupture. This results in more energy directed toward the metropolis. The median directivity trends at 85° from the North, aligning closely with the strike of the Main Marmara Fault. “This directional tendency suggests that ground shaking is more pronounced in Istanbul during such seismic events,” says Dr Xiang Chen, first author of the study and post-doc scientist at GFZ during the study.

Impact of the findings on potential stronger earthquakes in the Istanbul region

This information is particularly vital given that the Main Marmara Fault is considered to be late in its seismic cycle, meaning that a large earthquake is overdue. The present study does not reduce concerns about the implications of a large earthquake in the region: “Depending on where a future large earthquake would nucleate, these asymmetric rupture patterns could lead to heightened ground motion towards the urban centre of Istanbul,” states Prof. Patricia Martínez-Garzón, working group leader at GFZ Section 4.2 “Geomechanics and Scientific Drilling” and corresponding author of the study.

Consideration recommended for seismic hazard maps

When estimating seismic hazard maps for certain regions, rupture directivity, e.g. the preferential direction in which earthquakes radiate their energy, is not yet taken into account. “We want and plan to include directivity effects in the next generation of seismic hazard maps used in earthquake engineering, and results such as these are fundamental to enabling this development,” says Prof. Fabrice Cotton, co-author of the study and Head of GFZ-Section 2.6 “Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics”.

The importance of good monitoring by regional observatories

The measured data for this study were partly delivered by the Plate Boundary Observatory (GONAF) that is operated in the Marmara region since 2015 by the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, in collaboration with the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). It comprises various types of instrumentation including seismometers that are installed in boreholes to precisely monitor and measure earthquake activity in the region.

“A key objective of our observatory is to better monitor the small and moderate earthquakes in the Marmara region, to prepare as good as possible for when a large earthquake ruptures near Istanbul,” adds Prof. Marco Bohnhoff, Head of Section 4.2 “Geomechanics and Scientific Drilling” and Leading Scientist of GONAF geophysical observatory.

Implications of the study for urban planning and the protection of the population

The implications of this study underscore the necessity for urban planners, policymakers, and emergency response coordinators to incorporate detailed seismic risk assessments into their planning frameworks. “Evaluating potential earthquake impacts based on improved scientific methodologies can drastically enhance the resilience of Istanbul’s infrastructure and communities,” emphasises Patricia Martínez-Garzón.

This research not only sheds light on the seismic behaviour of the Main Marmara Fault near Istanbul, but also serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing threat that earthquakes pose for urban environments worldwide. As cities become increasingly vulnerable due to population density and infrastructure challenges, understanding the nuances of seismic activity remains vital for safeguarding communities.

 

Funding: This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the frame of the ICDP‐SPP proposal “Earthquake source characterization and directivity effects near Istanbul: Implications for seismic hazard” and the ERC Starting Grant ‐101076119 (QUAKEHUNTER).

 

Original study: 

Chen, X., Martinez‐Garzon, P., Kwiatek, G., Ben‐Zion, Y., Bohnhoff, M., & Cotton, F. (2025). Rupture directivity of moderate earthquakes along the main Marmara fault suggests larger ground motion toward Istanbul. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2024GL111460.

https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL111460

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Journal

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

10.1029/2024GL111460 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Rupture directivity of moderate earthquakes along the main Marmara fault suggests larger ground motion toward Istanbul.

Subduction thermal state, slab metamorphism, and seismicity in the Makran Subduction Zone

Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.

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Visualization of thermal state and slab depth in the Makran Subduction Zone

Fig 1 tectonic map of the Makran Subduction Zone. Background colors indicate the surface topography (ETOPO; Smith and Sandwell, 1997). The white curved lines indicate the isodepth contours of the upper surfaces of the Arabian and Indian Plates at intervals of 20 km (interpolation from Slab2; Hayes et al., 2018). The dashed light blue lines represent the model region for the subducting Arabian Plate. The colored circles show the distributions of the epicenters of M >3 earthquakes recorded by the IRIS seismic monitor (Trabant et al., 2012) from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2009. The magnitudes are represented in proportion to the radius of the solid circles, and their colors indicate hypocenter depths (white indicates >60 km). The yellow arrows illustrate the motion of the Arabian Plate with respect to the Eurasian Plate. The red triangles indicate active volcanoes (Siebert et al., 2011). Eq: Earthquake; Topo: Topography.

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Credit: Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.

The Makran Subduction Zone, located in the northeastern Arabian Sea, is an active tectonic region where the Arabian Plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. This research employs advanced 3-D thermal modeling to analyze the thermal state of the subducting slab and its interaction with overlying materials. By examining slab metamorphism and fluid release patterns, we aim to uncover the links between thermal variations, metamorphic reactions, and seismicity. The results offer new perspectives on the behavior of subduction zones, particularly in regions where significant seismic events occur due to slab dehydration and other related processes. This work contributes to the broader understanding of subduction dynamics and provides valuable data for seismic hazard assessment in the Makran region.

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DOI

10.26464/epp2025004 

Article Title

Subduction thermal state, slab metamorphism, and seismicity in the Makran Subduction Zone

Article Publication Date

14-Mar-2025

Visualization of thermal state and slab depth in the Makran Subduction Zone

Fig 2 Slab geometry and subduction velocities of the Arabian Plate. The color of the slab indicates the depth. The colored arrows indicate the slab velocity and induced mantle flows

Visualization of thermal state and slab depth in the Makran Subduction Zone

Fig 3 (a) Steady-state thermal structure (°C) at the plate interface calculated in this study. The yellow dashed line M–N indicates the main thrust zone with a rapid temperature increase from 300 °C to 500 °C; Temp: Temperature (°C); (b) thermal gradient (°C/km along the slab) at the plate interface; Temp_gradient: Temperature gradient (°C/km); (c) water content at the plate interface; Water_content: Water content (wt%). (d) slab dehydration at the plate interface; Dehy_content: Dehydration of the slab water content (wt%/km along the slab). The red stars represent the historically recorded M >7 earthquakes

 Visualization of thermal state and slab depth in the Makran Subduction Zone

Fig 4 The cross-sectional temperature distribution along profile A in eastern Iran. (a) The location of Profile A and the thermal structure (°C) at the rest plate interface calculated in this study; (b) side view (from west) of the thermal structure (°C) along cross-section A and the rest plate interface.
 

Credit

Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.