Surprising scientific research on life expectancy. Aging is influenced by an overlooked factor
Science is constantly trying to verify what factors influence life expectancy. Scientific research has already produced many results, including: unhealthy lifestyle, genetic conditions or lack of sleep. The latest findings of scientists also identified unfavorable neighborhoods as a factor that accelerates aging.
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The study, the results of which were published in “The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences”, was conducted on a group of over 1,440 residents of Wisconsin. Scientists analyzed the impact of cumulative exposure to difficult living conditions in neighborhoods and the level of emotional burden on the aging process.
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Dr. Christina Kamis, professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana and Champaign, explained that the results support the risk chain model, which holds that long-term exposure to adverse socioeconomic factors accelerates biological aging.
Experts warn. This factor affects faster aging and it is not about cigarettes and alcohol
Crucially, unlike previous studies, this time not only the current place of residence was taken into account. Researchers also took into account neighborhood histories from age 18, which stretched back up to five decades.
Dr. Kamis emphasized that although not all aspects of accelerated aging result from emotional burdens, they have a significant impact on this process.
The study used three different epigenetic clocks – PhenoAge, GrimAge and Dunedin Pace of Aging – to precisely measure the rate of biological aging.
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As we read in the research announcement on the University's website, the team found that over 60 percent participants were aging faster than their chronological age, according to the Dunedin Pace of Aging clock. In the case of PhenoAge and GrimAge clocks, this percentage was 46 percent, respectively. and 42 percent
Co-author of the study and professor at the Institute of Health and Human Affairs at the Medical College of Wisconsin – Dr. Wei Xu – indicated that anxiety played a key mediating role between difficult living conditions and accelerated aging. The study also took into account other aspects of mental health, such as depression and stress, but it was anxiety that had the greatest impact on epigenetic changes.
