Stress Makes Life’s Clock Tick Faster, Chilling Out Slows It Down

Chronic stress accelerates the body’s epigenetic clock, however, those that can manage its effect by strengthening their emotional regulation and self-control can slow the process.

Scientists in recent years have discovered ways to calculate biological age by tracking chemical changes in DNA that occur naturally as people age but it takes place at different times for different people. These so-called “epigenetic clocks” have successfully demonstrated to be more accurate life expectancy and health indicators than chronological age.

In a recent study, Yale researchers used “GrimAge” to determine how much chronic stress accelerates the biological clock. And are there any methods to slow it down and extend a healthy lifespan?

According to the research findings, chronic tension makes life’s clock tick faster. However, individuals can help control the effects by strengthening emotional regulation and self-control.

Understanding Stress: Its Impact on Aging and Health Resilience

Prolonged stress increases the risk of heart disease, mood disorders, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. It can affect metabolism, increasing obesity-related disorders such as diabetes. Stress also gradually decreases our ability to regulate emotions and to think clearly.

For their study, the researchers included 444 people, ages 19 to 50, who provided blood samples to assess age-related chemical changes captured by GrimAge, as well as other health markers. The participants were also asked a few questions designed to reveal psychological resilience.

Even after considering demographic and behavioral factors such as smoking, body mass index, race, and income, the researchers noted that those who scored high on measures related to chronic stress showed accelerated aging markers and physiological changes such as higher levels of insulin resistance.

However, stress didn’t influence everyone’s health to the same degree. Emotion regulation and self-control, two psychological resilience qualities important for managing the impacts of stress on ageing and insulin resistance. In other words, the likelihood that a person will live a longer, healthier life increases with increased psychological resilience.