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By Stephen Beach, via SWNS
Losing a loved one could speed up the ageing process, new research warns.
American researchers have found that experiencing the death of a close family member may accelerate ageing.
Findings published in JAMA Network Open showed that people who have lost a parent, partner, sibling or child showed signs of having an older biological age compared to those who have not experienced such a loss.
The researchers explained that biological ageing is the gradual decline in cell, tissue and organ function and an increased risk of chronic diseases.
Scientists measure this using a DNA marker called the epigenetic clock.
“Few studies have examined how losing loved ones at different stages of life affects these DNA markers, especially in research samples that are representative of the U.S. population,” said Alison Aiello, a professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.
“Our study shows a strong association between the loss of loved ones throughout life, from childhood through adulthood, and accelerated biological aging in the United States.”
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The findings suggest that the effects of loss on aging can be seen long before midlife and may contribute to health differences across racial and ethnic groups.
The researchers used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which began in 1994 and 1995 and followed participants from their teenage years through adulthood.
To measure family loss during childhood and adolescence, Professor Aiello and his colleagues followed participants through different waves and periods of aging.
In the first wave, 20,745 adolescents, mostly between the ages of 12 and 19, were surveyed, and participants have been followed up since then.
The fifth wave was conducted between 2016 and 2018, completing interviews with 12,300 of the original participants.
In the most recent study, conducted between 2016 and 2018, participants were invited to additional at-home testing, with around 4,500 of them providing blood samples for DNA testing.
The study looked at losses experienced during childhood up to age 18 and adulthood from ages 19 to 43.
They also looked at the number of losses they experienced during that time period.
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Biological aging data were assessed from blood DNA methylation using the epigenetic clock.
Approximately 40% of participants had experienced at least one loss during adulthood between the ages of 33 and 43.
Black (57%) and Hispanic (41%) participants were more likely to have experienced at least one loss compared with White (34%) participants.
According to some epigenetic clocks, people who had two or more miscarriages had an older biological age.
Having two or more miscarriages in adulthood is more strongly associated with biological aging than having one miscarriage, and significantly more strongly associated with biological aging than having no miscarriage at all.
“The link between losing a loved one and lifelong health problems is well documented,” Aiello said.
“However, at some stages of life, people may be more vulnerable to loss-related health risks, and the accumulation of losses appears to be an important factor.”
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For example, she said, losing a parent or sibling during childhood can be extremely traumatic and often leads to mental health problems, cognitive impairment, an increased risk of heart disease and an increased chance of dying young.
Aiello said losing a close family member at any age poses health risks, and repeated losses can increase the risk of heart disease, dementia and death.
The researchers emphasized that while loss at any age can have long-term effects on health, the effects may be more severe during critical developmental periods such as childhood and early adulthood.
Aiello added: “Although we still do not fully understand how weight loss leads to poorer health and increased mortality, our study suggests that biological aging may be one mechanism.”
“Future research needs to focus on finding ways to reduce disproportionate losses among vulnerable groups.”
“For those who have experienced loss, providing resources to help them cope and deal with the trauma is essential.”
