Concerns about health and aging affect not only emotions — they can accelerate aging at the cellular level. Studies show that a person's biological age is determined not only by calendar years but also by the condition of their cells.
Epigenetic Clocks: Measuring the Rate of Aging
Epigenetic clocks assess chemical changes in DNA that affect gene function without altering the genetic code itself. Methods such as GrimAge2 and DunedinPACE allow for the measurement of accumulated biological damage and the rate of aging in the body.
Researchers from NYU analyzed 726 women and found that fears related to health deterioration are directly linked to accelerated cellular aging according to the DunedinPACE method.
What Fears Accelerate Aging
- Loss of health and illness — a strong factor in accelerated aging.
- Loss of attractiveness — statistically does not affect biological age.
- Reproductive aging — also not associated with epigenetic clocks.
Chronic stress caused by health anxieties increases inflammation and accelerates the "wear and tear" of cells, impacting biological aging processes.
How to Slow the Process
A healthy lifestyle can partially mitigate the effects of fears:
- proper nutrition
- regular physical activity
- stress reduction and support for mental health
Even in the presence of anxieties, these steps help the body remain "young" and slow down cellular aging.
The study confirms: aging is not just a number in a passport. Our thoughts and psycho-emotional state directly affect the health of our cells, so it is important not to ignore anxieties, but also not to allow them to control the body.
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