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Related Concept Videos

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Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

A Quantitative Measurement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Senescence-associated Secretory Phenotype in Normal Human Fibroblasts During Oncogene-induced Senescence
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Dysregulated physiological stress systems and accelerated cellular aging.

Dóra Révész1, Josine E Verhoeven1, Yuri Milaneschi1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Neurobiology of Aging
|January 21, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chronic stress accelerates biological aging, shortening leukocyte telomere length (LTL). This study links shorter LTL to inflammation, elevated cortisol, and increased heart rate, indicating cumulative stress impacts aging.

Keywords:
AgingAutonomic nervous systemCellular agingCortisolInflammationStressTelomeres

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Area of Science:

  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Endocrinology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Chronic stress is linked to accelerated biological aging, evidenced by reduced leukocyte telomere length (LTL).
  • This aging process may stem from the chronic overactivation of physiological stress systems.
  • Understanding the interplay between stress systems and LTL is crucial for aging research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and key physiological stress systems.
  • To examine the relationship between LTL and markers of the immune system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Main Methods:

  • Assessed LTL in 2936 adults from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety.
  • Measured inflammation markers (IL-6, CRP, TNF-alpha), HPA axis indicators (cortisol levels and suppression), and ANS measures (heart rate, RSA, PEP).
  • Utilized linear regression analyses adjusted for relevant covariates.

Main Results:

  • Shorter LTL was significantly associated with higher levels of c-reactive protein, interleukin-6, awakening cortisol response (AUCi), and heart rate.
  • A cumulative index of these four stress markers showed a significant gradient with LTL, indicating up to 10 years of accelerated biological aging.
  • Contrary to expectations, shorter LTL was also linked to a longer pre-ejection period, suggesting reduced sympathetic tone.

Conclusions:

  • Inflammation, elevated awakening cortisol, and increased heart rate are associated with shorter LTL.
  • Cumulative dysregulation of these stress markers significantly accelerates biological aging.
  • Findings highlight the detrimental impact of chronic stress on aging, particularly through combined physiological system dysregulation.