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Sex Differences in Associations Between Adversity and Biological Ageing
Julian Mutz1, Luca Di Benedetto1,2, Thole H Hoppen3,4
1Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Aging Cell
|February 5, 2026
Summary
Adverse life events impact biological aging differently in males and females. Childhood adversity affects females more, while adulthood adversity impacts males more, influencing aging markers like frailty and grip strength.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Adverse life events are linked to accelerated biological aging.
- Existing research has not fully clarified sex-specific differences in the association between adversity timing and biological aging markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in the association between childhood and/or adulthood adversity and biological aging markers.
- To determine if the timing of adversity exposure (childhood vs. adulthood) modifies these sex-specific associations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 153,557 UK Biobank participants (aged 40-69).
- Assessed associations between childhood/adulthood adversity and metabolomic aging, frailty, telomere length, and grip strength.
- Employed stratified analyses and sex-by-adversity interaction tests to evaluate sex differences.
Main Results:
- Childhood adversity was linked to multiple aging markers predominantly in females (metabolite-predicted age, frailty, telomere length, grip strength).
- Adulthood adversity showed stronger associations with certain aging markers in males (frailty, grip strength).
- Significant sex-by-adversity interactions were observed for frailty and grip strength.
Conclusions:
- The timing of adversity exposure significantly shapes sex differences in biological aging.
- Females and males exhibit distinct vulnerabilities to adversity at different life stages, influencing biological aging.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering both sex and the timing of adversity in aging research.
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