How Stress Can Increase Your Biological Age and Ways to Combat It

A Study Reveals Stressful Situations Can Accelerate Biological Age

A recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism has revealed that stressful situations such as emergency surgery, serious illness such as COVID-19, diseases, drug treatments, changes in lifestyle or environmental exposures can accelerate biological age.

According to experts from Harvard and Duke universities in the United States, both humans and mice can experience changes in their biological age within short periods of days or months due to stress. However, this situation is reversible once the stress has been overcome.

Biological Age Changes Can Be Measured Through Epigenetic Clocks

The study highlights that these changes in biological age can be measured through epigenetic clocks. The findings suggest that the concept of biological aging as a unidirectional ascending trajectory throughout life should be called into question.

As one of the signatories of the research, James White from Duke University, explains, “We recommend this finding of a fluid, fluctuating, and malleable age calls into question the old conception of a unidirectional ascending trajectory of biological age throughout life.”

The Nature of Biological Aging

Although the study has some limitations, the result highlights an underappreciated aspect of the nature of biological aging. It also provides insight into why some people can maintain a youthful physical appearance despite their biological age.

The study’s findings suggest that biological aging is a fluid, fluctuating, and malleable process that can be influenced by a variety of factors, including stress. Therefore, it is important to manage stress appropriately to maintain a healthy and youthful biological age.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study reveals that stressful situations can accelerate biological age, but this situation is reversible once the stress is overcome. It is also important to note that changes in biological age can be measured through epigenetic clocks and that biological aging is a fluid, fluctuating, and malleable process that should be managed appropriately.