Giving low-income mothers a monthly cash stipend slows their children’s biological aging

A recent study published in Nature Human Behaviour reveals that providing low-income mothers with a monthly cash stipend during their child's first four years can slow down the biological aging process of the children. The research, conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, looked at DNA methylation, a biological process that alters gene expression without changing genetic code.

As people age, these molecular changes accumulate and reflect their biological age, which can sometimes exceed their chronological age.

The study, known as Baby's First Years, enrolled low-income mothers and randomly assigned them to receive either a $333 monthly stipend or a $20 stipend. The mothers and children were followed for four years, and saliva samples were collected to measure epigenetic clocks, which estimate biological aging. The DunedinPACE clock measured the pace of biological aging, while the Epigenetic-g clock assessed cognitive functioning and brain health.

The results showed that children in the high-cash group, receiving $333 per month, had a slower biological aging rate compared to those in the low-cash group, receiving $20 per month. Specifically, their DunedinPACE scores were lower, indicating a deceleration in cellular aging. This suggests that larger cash transfers can mitigate the negative effects of financial strain on a child's developing system, leading to a healthier biological trajectory.

However, the study did not find any significant impact of the cash transfers on the children's Epigenetic-g scores, which measure cognitive functioning and brain health. The researchers concluded that providing direct financial support to families is a powerful public health intervention that can counteract the biological effects of poverty.