What if aging well did not depend so much on intense efforts or restrictive diets? A new study highlights a factor often underestimated, especially in women, which nevertheless plays a key role in the speed of biological aging.
Aging is natural but not always experienced well. Wrinkles appear, the body is less toned, fatigue is more present… But the good news is that it is possible to slow down this biological clock. Already, by monitoring your diet, moving daily and taking care of your sleep. But more than all that, another factor matters above all, according to a new American study. For researchers, it is even the first thing to do (especially for women) to slow down the effects of the passage of time.
These researchers from New York University analyzed data from 726 women, with an average age of 50. They responded to a psychological questionnaire relating to three types of concerns about aging: the fear of losing attractiveness, the fear of seeing one’s health deteriorate and the fact of advancing in reproductive age (menopause and consequences). At the same time, blood samples were taken to measure their biological age, by evaluating the rate at which their body ages and the damage accumulated over time.
The result? It’s the fear of growing old… that makes you age faster. “Anxiety linked to aging is not just a psychological concern, it can leave an imprint on the body with real consequences for health”summarizes Mariana Rodrigues, first author of the study. The women who were most anxious about the passage of time showed signs of accelerated biological aging. And it is more precisely the fear of seeing one’s health decline, of developing illnesses, of losing mobility or of becoming dependent which showed the strongest link with this acceleration. In other words, the more we fear decline, the more we precipitate it, especially since 60% of participants already had at least two chronic illnesses. Concerns related to physical appearance or fertility did not have a significant impact on the aging of the body.
Health concerns are more stubborn and generate chronic stress that eventually builds into the body. “Subjective experiences of aging may become biologically anchored through measurable epigenetic modifications”explain the authors in the journal “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Women are particularly exposed to this anxiety, between social pressures around youth and the role of caregiver for aging loved ones. “Women in mid-life are often juggling multiple roles, including caring for their aging parents. As they see their loved ones fall ill, they may wonder if the same thing will happen to them.”specifies Mariana Rodrigues. The good news? To age more slowly, you must work on your fear of aging.
Concretely, the researchers’ recommendation is simple: do not let this fear take hold. Take care of your mental health as well as your physical health, give yourself what feels good, and above all not be left alone in the face of these anxieties. If the fear of aging begins to take up too much space, consulting a professional can help free yourself from it.
