Do certain ethnic groups age slower or faster than others? A study published in Genome Biology found that Latinos age slower than any other racial group even though they experience higher rates of diseases like diabetes. Scientists call this the “Hispanic Paradox.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic people in the United States live about three years longer than Caucasians, with a life expectancy of 82 years versus 79. Scientists wanted to show that this slow aging was happening on a molecular level.

The team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles used several biomarkers, or quantifiable characteristics of biological processes, to track changes in the DNA molecule in the genome that is linked to aging.

The team analyzed DNA samples of almost 6,000 people. Participants includes two African groups, African-Americans, Caucasians, East Asians, Latinos and Tsimane (Chimane), who are indigenous people from Bolivia related to Latinos genetically.

The scientists studied the DNA in the blood and found stark differences, among them that the blood of Latinos and Tsimane aged slower than the blood of other groups they analyzed. They also found the “biological clock” measured the age Latino women’s blood as 2.4 years younger than non-Latino women of the same age after menopause. The data showed the Tsimane aged even slower than Latinos.

Horvath said these findings suggest lower aging rates are helping Latinos and Tsimanes neutralize higher health risks. If scientists can identify the molecular mechanism that causes Latinos to age slower, perhaps other groups can get in on this secret to a longer life.