This is a heartbreaking truth.
A recent study reveals that losing close relatives or loved ones can speed up biological aging. Published in JAMA Network Open on July 29, the research indicates that individuals who have experienced the death of a parent, partner, sibling, or child show signs of advanced biological age compared to those who haven’t faced such losses.
The study, led by Allison Aiello from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, highlights a significant connection between the experience of loss throughout one’s life and accelerated biological aging. Biological aging refers to the decline in the function of cells, tissues, and organs, which can be measured using DNA markers known as epigenetic clocks. These markers help assess how much biological age deviates from chronological age.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 4,500 participants, who provided blood samples for DNA testing over an extended period. The study tracked participants from their teenage years into adulthood, focusing on how the loss of loved ones affected their biological age. The findings suggest that individuals who experienced two or more significant losses during their lives exhibited signs of older biological age. Additionally, losses experienced in adulthood had a stronger impact on biological aging than fewer or no losses.
Approximately 40% of the participants reported experiencing at least one significant loss between the ages of 33 and 43. The study found that the cumulative effect of multiple losses, particularly in adulthood, was strongly linked to accelerated biological aging. This connection underscores the vulnerability of certain life stages to the health impacts of personal loss.
Aiello emphasized that while the link between personal loss and health problems is well-documented, this study sheds light on how biological aging might be a mechanism through which loss affects long-term health. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between grief, health, and biological aging.
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