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WHEN ARE PEOPLE'S FUTURE HEALTH DECIDED?

People's future health may be decided at just 10 years old, research suggested in February 2018.

Children from disadvantaged homes have reduced wellbeing as older adults regardless of how comfortable their teenage or middle-aged years were, a study found today.

Researchers believe underprivileged upbringings may cause youngsters stress, which could lead to inflammation that affects their immunity and overall health in later life.

Study author Boris Cheval from the University of Geneva, said: 'Our study suggests a direct, biological and lasting effect of a poor start in life.'

Stéphane Cullati, who was also involved in the study, added: 'A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that the social is incarnated in the body, and thus shows the urgency, when it comes to health, to consider individuals under all of their life circumstances.' 

The researchers analysed 24,179 people aged between 50 and 96 years old living in 14 European countries.

The study's participants' hand strengths were assessed via a handheld device.

Such strength is considered a good indicator of overall health in old age.

These results were compared against the following four indicators of financial comfort in early life: the primary earner's occupation, the number of books in their home, housing quality and the number of people living in the household relative to the number of rooms. 

Results further suggest poor hand strength in later life is associated with having had a disadvantaged childhood.

The findings also show older Scandinavians are in better health than their fellow European counterparts regardless of their upbringings.

This is thought to be due to their broad access to healthcare and education.  

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