Study on the effect of stress on biological age

Jesse R. Poganik et al.

May 2023

Anti-Stress & Burnout

Ageing is traditionally seen as a progressive process of damage and loss of function that leads to an increase in disease and mortality.

However, recent in vitro studies have shown ways to reverse the ageing process. This study from 2023 concludes that biological age is flexible and can undergo rapid changes in both directions.

At the epigenetic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels, the researchers found that the biological age of young mice is increased by heterochronic parabiosis and restored after surgical separation. In addition, they also observed transient changes in biological age during major surgical procedures, during pregnancy and in severe COVID-19 in humans and/or mice.

These findings suggest that biological age increases rapidly in response to various forms of stress, but can reverse after a recovery period.

The present study reveals a new dimension of the dynamics of the aging process that should be considered in future studies. The increase in biological age due to stress could represent a measurable and controllable target for future interventions.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Stress, anti-aging
Institution: Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
Title: Study on the effect of stress on biological age
Brief description: A study shows that stress can rapidly increase biological age, but that this is reversed after a recovery phase.
Original title: Biological age is increased by stress and restored upon recovery
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37086720/