New Study: 4 Factors from Childhood Can Influence How Fast Your Organs Age

Organ aging is a key indicator of longevity—stated 2023 research published in the journal Nature, written by a team of three dozen renowned university scientists: “When an organ is substantially ‘older’ than a person’s actual age, the risk of death and diseases related to that part of the body shoots up.” 

Now, a September, 2025 long-term study from the U.K. offers fresh insight into how our early life experiences may shape the way our organs age decades later. Researchers followed more than 1,800 people born in 1946, tracking their health from birth into their late 70s. When participants were around age 63, the scientists analyzed their blood to look for proteins that reveal how quickly organs decline, like the liver and kidneys, as well as the immune system.

They had a scientific system for measuring this: “Organ age estimates are based on abundance of proteins enriched for a specific organ,” the study states. The team analyzed patterns of specific proteins within several organs to determine the “age” of each. For example, a protein called renin strongly influences kidney aging and may rise in response to long-term stress. In the immune system, imbalanced cytokine—proteins that act as chemical messengers—can drive inflammation, while certain proteins help explain liver aging.

The researchers found that certain childhood experiences had a powerful effect on organ deterioration later in life. In fact, people who had more positive conditions throughout childhood and adulthood were four times less likely to show signs of extreme aging by their early 60s.

That said, four childhood factors stood out the most. One was birthweight. Babies born weighing less than 2.5 kilograms (about 5.5 pounds) were considered low birthweight. This early disadvantage may influence how organs develop and function over time, the researchers explained. 

Another variable was childhood socioeconomic status, based on the father’s job. Kids from families with professional or skilled non-manual jobs were considered to be of higher socioeconomic status, while those with manual or unskilled labor backgrounds were lower. Growing up with fewer resources can limit access to healthy food, safe housing, and other supports that help developing bodies thrive.

The third factor was adolescent weight. At age 15, teens with a BMI above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cutoffs for overweight were more likely to show signs of faster organ aging decades later. Today, a BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight, the WHO reminds us. (Meanwhile, subject matter experts are beginning to suggest that body mass index may no longer be the north star gauging metabolic health and body composition that it was long regarded to be.) 

Fourth and finally, education also appeared to play a role in organ decline over time. Teens who continued school through age 16 and earned O-level qualifications—standardized secondary school exams widely taken in the U.K.—were classified as having higher educational attainment. The possible connection might be that more schooling often leads to healthier lifestyle choices and better access to healthcare throughout adulthood—not only in terms of health insurance (which is public in the U.K.), but through more social-oriented means, as well.

Overall, the findings show that childhood experiences can leave lasting biological marks…but also that education about health, and our choices, can also play massive roles in longevity as we grow.

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