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Concerns about getting older and fears surrounding declining health may be connected to measurable biological changes associated with aging.
Worrying about aging is often treated as an emotional issue, but new research suggests it may also connect to measurable changes inside the body. In a study led by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health, women who felt more anxious about getting older, especially about future health decline, showed signs of faster biological aging at the cellular level.
“Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of aging,” said Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at NYU School of Global Public Health and the first author of the study, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. “Aging-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences.”
Anxiety about aging is common and often centers on fears of physical decline, disease, and reduced independence. Previous studies have shown that ongoing psychological stress can influence biological aging through epigenetic changes, which affect how genes function without altering the DNA itself.
“We know from previous research that anxiety, depression, and mental health in general are associated with a number of physical health outcomes, but until now, researchers haven’t focused on whether there is a correlation between worrying about aging and the process of aging itself,” said Rodrigues.
Worrying about aging is often treated as an emotional issue, but new research suggests it may also connect to measurable changes inside the body. In a study led by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health, women who felt more anxious about getting older, especially about future health decline, showed signs of faster biological aging at the cellular level.
“Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of aging,” said Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at NYU School of Global Public Health and the first author of the study, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. “Aging-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences.”
Anxiety about aging is common and often centers on fears of physical decline, disease, and reduced independence. Previous studies have shown that ongoing psychological stress can influence biological aging through epigenetic changes, which affect how genes function without altering the DNA itself.
“We know from previous research that anxiety, depression, and mental health in general are associated with a number of physical health outcomes, but until now, researchers haven’t focused on whether there is a correlation between worrying about aging and the process of aging itself,” said Rodrigues.
