Poorer people suffer greater declines in physical function as they age
In England and Canada, socioeconomic inequalities are associated with differences in how people age, with less wealthy people showing reduced mobility and function compared with their wealthier peers, according to a study published Aug. 13 in PLOS Medicine by Stephanie Schrempft of Geneva University Hospitals in Switzerland and colleagues.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine reveals that people with lower socioeconomic status experience more significant declines in physical function and mobility as they age, particularly in England compared to Canada. Researchers analyzed data from two long-term studies involving 8,511 English and 22,605 Canadian adults aged 50-85.
Wealthier individuals showed less decline in walking speed, grip strength, lung function, and daily activities like dressing and bathing. The disparity was most pronounced in England, where a 60-year-old with the lowest wealth had the mobility of a 75-year-old with the highest wealth. Women in the lowest wealth bracket faced greater challenges with mobility and daily tasks compared to men in the same group but had better lung function.
While the study cannot rule out the influence of childhood factors or access to private healthcare, its authors emphasize the need for policy interventions to address health inequities and structural changes to reduce these inequalities.
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