Scientists have linked the fear of aging to its acceleration at the cellular level

Researchers at New York University's School of Global Public Health have found that feeling anxious about aging, especially in the context of health, can accelerate biological aging processes. This was reported on February 26 by Science Daily magazine.

"Our study suggests that subjective experiences can influence objective indicators of aging. Anxiety related to aging is not just a psychological problem, it can leave a mark in the body with real health consequences," said Mariana Rodriguez, a graduate student at the institution and the first author of the study.

According to the publication, many adults have concerns about aging, including fears of illness, physical deterioration, and loss of independence. Previous studies have demonstrated that prolonged psychological stress can affect biological aging through epigenetic changes — changes in how genes are activated or deactivated.

Rodriguez emphasized that anxiety, depression and mental health in general are associated with a number of indicators of physical health. However, she noted that prior to this, scientists had not paid much attention to the direct link between anxiety about aging and the process itself.

The authors argue that women may be particularly vulnerable to aging-related anxiety. This is associated with social expectations about youth, appearance, and fertility concerns, which can increase stress in middle age.

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In the course of the study, scientists analyzed data from 726 women who told them how much they worry about decreased attractiveness, possible illnesses, or the inability to have children in old age. They had a blood test using two epigenetic clocks: one measured the rate of biological aging, the other measured accumulated biological damage over time.

As a result, the women who were most worried about aging experienced faster epigenetic aging. Accelerated epigenetic aging has been associated with physical deterioration and an increased risk of age-related diseases.

At the same time, it is emphasized that not all anxieties had the same effect. Health anxiety was most closely associated with accelerated aging, while anxiety about appearance and fertility had no significant effect on epigenetic aging. The results indicate a close relationship between mental and physical health throughout life, despite the fact that these two aspects are often considered separately.

The researchers also warned that this work reflects only one point in time, so it cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships and exclude the influence of other factors. Some behavioral reactions related to anxiety (smoking or drinking alcohol) may help explain the link between aging anxiety and aging.

On February 12, Science Daily reported the identification of the DMTF1 protein (cyclin D-binding myoblast-like transcription factor), which can slow down brain aging. According to the study, the levels of this protein are reduced in "aging" neural stem cells, but when its expression is restored, the cells regained their ability to regenerate. Scientists have suggested that DMTF1 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for restoring stem cell function in the aging brain.

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