Chronic Stress Accelerates Aging: Epigenetic Evidence
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The increase in cardiovascular disease caused by chronic stress is related to biologic mechanisms (metabolic, hormonal, inflammatory) and to behavioral mechanisms (lifestyle). There is a popular saying that "stress speeds up aging," which makes sense if we consider the age-old idea that "our age corresponds to that of our arteries." The study of the mechanisms of psychosocial risk factors is of major relevance to the creation of the individual and communal preventive strategies that ensure longevity and maintain quality of life.
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@debangshu Stress is positively associated with accelerated biologic aging, and this relationship will be mediated by stress-related physiologic changes, such as insulin and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) signaling. Strong factors associated with psychologic resilience will be protective against the negative consequences of stress on aging. (These relationships are predictive, not causative, as this study is cross-sectional.)