Stress Can Increase Biological Age—But It Can Be Reversed, Study Finds

As we begin learning more about healthy aging and longevity, one thing has become demonstrably clear: we can influence our biological age through dietary and lifestyle changes.

For this study, researchers wanted to look at how stressful events (i.e. surgery, pregnancy, or becoming severely sick with COVID-19) impacted participants' biological age, and further, what happened after the stress subsided.

In all of the incidences, the team observed that biological age increased in times of several physiological stress—but was reversed or almost reversed after the stressful situation had resolved—making this the first study of its kind to provide such strong evidence that biological age can be reversed when stress is mitigated.

As lead study author Jesse Poganik, Ph.D., explains in a news release, “Severe stress can trigger biological age to increase, but if that stress is short lived, the signs of biological aging can be reversed.”

There are already so many benefits to stressing less—consider this research one more reason to find your daily dose of peace. And it doesn't have to be anything major either.

Simply getting a quick workout in has been shown to produce endorphins2 in the brain that make you feel good—which can help decrease tension, elevate mood, improve sleep, and boost self-esteem.

Meditation is another common practice to take up if you're feeling stressed, as research shows regular meditation helps improve emotional reactivity3 (AKA the way you respond to stress), which can help with a healthy inflammatory response to stress.