According to a new study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, researchers have examined whether anxiety about growing older can be physically measured in the body.
The study shows that women who worry significantly about aging are more likely to display signs of accelerated biological aging.
Biological age refers to how worn the body is compared to a person’s actual age in years.
Researchers point out that our experiences and emotions may affect the body more than previously assumed.
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What does the study show?
The study is based on data from 726 middle-aged women in the United States.
Participants were asked about their concerns regarding getting older, and researchers compared their responses with measurements of their biological age.
It was particularly concerns about future health and illness that were associated with faster aging.
By contrast, researchers did not find a clear link when it came to concerns about appearance or fertility.
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According to the researchers, this may be because health-related worries often persist longer, while other concerns may diminish over time.
Important considerations
The researchers emphasize that the study shows an association but does not prove that worries directly cause the body to age faster. Other factors may also play a role.
For example, anxiety may lead to habits such as smoking or increased alcohol consumption. When the researchers accounted for such factors, the association became weaker.
Further research is therefore needed, but the findings nevertheless suggest that mental and physical health are closely connected throughout life.
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Sources: Powers Health, and Psychoneuroendocrinology.
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