The Study
Associations among discrimination, genetic susceptibility to inflammation, and C-reactive protein
This study looked at whether people who feel discriminated against also have higher levels of a body chemical linked to inflammation. It found a connection in some groups, but it didn't prove that discrimination causes the inflammation—maybe people with higher inflammation feel more discriminated against, or something else is causing both.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at whether people who feel they’re treated unfairly every day have more inflammation in their bodies, and whether their genes make this worse.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even small daily slights may add up to measurable biological harm in some groups, but genetic risk doesn’t make it worse.
- 2The genes used in the study don’t work well for Black and Hispanic people, so we can’t trust those results.
- 3People who felt discriminated against had higher inflammation markers — but only if they were White or Hispanic.
- 4Black participants didn’t show this link.
- 5Their genes didn’t make discrimination worse, and surprisingly, those with higher genetic risk reported less discrimination.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
Year
2026
Authors
Alisha A. Crump, J. Bather, Robert F. Krueger, Mariana Rodrigues, E. Kranz, Ester Villalonga-Olives, Adolfo G. Cuevas
Related Content
Claims (6)
Higher levels of hsCRP in the blood are consistently found in individuals with systemic inflammation and are associated with worse health outcomes.
Older adults of European American and Hispanic backgrounds who experience daily discrimination have higher levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, compared to those who do not, even when genetic factors are accounted for.
Genetic risk scores for inflammation based on European ancestry do not correlate with how often European American or Hispanic older adults report experiencing discrimination.
In African American older adults, a genetic score for inflammation based on European data is linked to lower reports of everyday discrimination.
Polygenic risk scores for C-reactive protein developed using European genetic data do not accurately predict inflammation levels in older African American and Hispanic individuals because of genetic differences between populations.
In older adults of European American, African American, or Hispanic descent, genetic factors related to inflammation do not make the inflammatory response to perceived discrimination stronger or weaker.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.