Sometimes you look around at your teenage friends and think, "Why do I look older than them?" Whose fault is it that yours is aging faster?
It's no secret that stress accelerates aging. Just yesterday we were enjoying our student years, but today we are already noticing gray hair while fixing our hair. But one of the latest studies has discovered that it is not only stress that contributes to faster aging, but also family history of depression.
A study conducted by Professor Ian Gotlib at Stanford University, showed that girls who had a history of depression and increased stress had shorter telomeres in their blood. Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the ends of chromosomes that shorten slightly every time a cell divides or is exposed to stress. Telomere length is like a biological clock that corresponds to age and shortens with age.
Why do some people age faster?
The researchers studied girls who were healthy but at high risk of developing depression due to family history. The girls in the study were exposed to stress, and as a result, higher amounts of cortisol were found in them.
Not only do telomeres contribute to accelerated aging, but they can also contribute to earlier mortality, as well as increased susceptibility to disease and infection. In the research, 12-year-old girls were found to have shorter telomeres, which meant that their bodies were responding as if they were 18 years old.
"I didn't think these girls would have shorter telomeres than their lower-risk friends—they're too young," Gotlib said of the results, adding that this is the first study of its kind. He also added: "It looks like telomere length predicts who will become depressed and who won't."
And what can we do ourselves to deal with depression and stress?
Research has shown, at least in adults, that exercise can slow telomere shortening in those who fall into the high-risk category. Mindfulness is also mentioned as one of the main tools, as it helps us manage stress, but of course it does not eliminate the damage already caused.
The key to a long life therefore lies in maintaining mental, physical and emotional health. Those who have dealt with depression and stress on a personal level know that it's never easy, but if these are two factors that will shorten your life by a few years, it's worth a try.
