PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A person's overall health is dependent on many factors, including where they live, what they eat, access to care and family support.
Social determinants of health play a huge impact. Scientists can look at a ZIP code and predict the life expectancy of the average person who lives there.
According to a new report in the Journal of the Medical Association, family members living in certain areas for generation after generation may age faster than those from other areas.
A process called DNA methylation can impact everything from growth and development to aging, and it can have an impact over generations. A growing field called epigenetics is looking at these factors and the need to address social determinants as part of overall health care.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
