New research suggests that social and epigenetic factors are both important in predicting aging and health. However, one factor may be more significant.
Can we objectively determine how fast we age? Scientists may be able, with the right measurement, to alter our aging rate to lead longer and healthier lifestyles. Researchers have known that some people age more quickly than others, and they’ve been working to measure the physiological changes within our bodies that cause health to decline with age.
Researchers have used clinical factors, such as hypertension, cholesterol, and weight, collected during physicals to predict aging for years. These measures were thought to be able to determine whether a person is aging quickly or slowly at any given point in time. Researchers have recently theorized there are other biological indicators that reflect aging on a molecular or cellular level. This can include modifications made to the genetic material of a person, also known as epigenetics.
The genetic makeup of each individual does not change much over the course of their lives. However, the chemical changes that take place in their genetic material can alter which genes are on or off. This leads to a faster aging process. These changes are usually caused by the addition of methyl group to DNA. They can be influenced socially and environmentally, including adverse childhood experiences, smoking and pollution.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-02-epigenetic-social-factors-aging-health.html
