A new study has found that money problems and not having enough food are two of the biggest reasons why some people’s hearts age faster than their actual age.
This kind of heart aging is linked to a higher chance of death and heart problems. The research, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, shows how social issues, not just medical ones, can deeply affect our health.
In the United States, the number of people over 65 is expected to nearly double by the year 2050, reaching 82 million. As more people live longer, the focus in healthcare is shifting.
Instead of only treating illness, doctors are also trying to help people age in a healthy way and live better lives. This new goal has led researchers to look for better ways to measure how aging affects the body.
Dr. Amir Lerman from the Mayo Clinic led the study. He explained that traditional health risk factors—like high blood pressure or cholesterol—don’t tell the full story. Many social factors, such as stress from money or lack of food, can also speed up heart aging, but doctors don’t always ask patients about these things.
The researchers looked at over 280,000 adults who visited the Mayo Clinic between 2018 and 2023. Each person answered a survey that included questions about nine social areas, such as how much stress they feel, if they exercise, if they have a good social life, whether they struggle with money or food, if they have stable housing, and more.
To measure how old each person’s heart was, the team used a special tool called an AI-ECG. This is an advanced version of the regular heart test (ECG) that uses artificial intelligence to estimate a person’s “cardiac age.” If someone’s heart age is much older than their real age, that’s a sign they’re at higher risk of heart problems.
The study found that social problems had a stronger effect on heart aging than traditional health issues. Of all the social challenges, financial strain and food insecurity were the most harmful. In other words, people who have trouble affording food or paying bills were more likely to have older, less healthy hearts.
Other issues like not having steady housing or not getting enough physical activity also added to the risk. The researchers said these problems can raise the chance of dying from any cause, just like well-known risks such as smoking or obesity.
Dr. Lerman and his team used a complex method called structural equation modeling to understand how all these social and health factors connect. Their goal was to show that treating heart disease requires more than just medicine—it also means helping people with the struggles they face in daily life.
The study mostly included non-Hispanic White patients, and the AI-ECG system was developed at the Mayo Clinic, so the results may not be the same for every group of people.
Still, the findings highlight something very important: if doctors and communities focus more on social needs like food and financial help, they might be able to slow down heart aging and save lives.
In summary, this research suggests that how we live—especially when it comes to money and access to healthy food—can change how fast our hearts age.
It also proves that using smart tools like AI-powered heart scans can help doctors spot early signs of trouble, even if someone feels fine. Taking action on social risks could be just as important as treating traditional medical conditions.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that Changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and common type 2 diabetes drugs may raise heart risk.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about root cause of heart rhythm disorders and Warning signal from the kidneys can predict future heart failure risk.
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