Health
Aging may speed up after death of a loved one, study finds: 'Major life stressor'
Experiencing the loss of a loved one not only has an emotional impact, but it may also speed up the aging process.
That’s according to a recent report from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Butler Columbia Aging Center in New York, in collaboration with the Carolina Population Center at University North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Researchers found that people who suffered a loss of a close family member such as a parent, child or sibling appeared to have an older biological age compared to those who did not.
The study was recently published in JAMA Network Open.
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“Although this study doesn’t offer definitive proof, it provides strong evidence of a link between experiencing loss and accelerated biological aging,” lead author Allison E. Aiello, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, told Fox News Digital.
Researchers found that people who suffered a loss of a close family member such as a parent, child or sibling appeared to have an older biological age compared to those who did not. (iStock)
Aiello defined biological age as “how old our bodies are at the cellular level, which may differ from our actual age.”
With a gradual decline in the function of cells, tissues and organs, there is an increased risk of developing diseases later in life, she said.
Details of the study
The team of researchers gathered data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which began in 1994.
A total of 20,745 participants ranging from 12 to 19 years were tracked for a 24-year span, up until 2018, according to a Columbia press release.
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The researchers recorded any losses of close relatives. Nearly 40% of participants experienced at least one loss in adulthood.
Out of the original participants, 4,500 agreed to undergo additional home exams and blood tests, the study authors noted.
DNA markers from the blood samples — also known as epigenetic clocks — were used to establish biological age.
“A greater number of losses was associated with more pronounced biological aging.”
Although a single loss was shown to speed up biological aging, two or more losses in adulthood had a more noticeable impact, the researchers found.
“A greater number of losses was associated with more pronounced biological aging, further supporting the harmful effects of this exposure,” Aiello told Fox News Digital.
Health effects of grief
The trauma of losing a parent or sibling has already been linked to many types of health issues, according to the study authors.
Prior research has shown that stress is linked to negative health outcomes — and loss is a “major life stressor,” Aiello said, often associated with mental health issues, cognitive decline, increased risk of heart disease and even higher mortality rates.
Although a single loss was shown to speed up biological aging, two or more losses in adulthood had a more noticeable impact, the researchers found. (iStock)
“The effects of such losses may not appear immediately, but can emerge over time,” she noted.
Although loss can cause these health effects at any age, they may be more profound during key developmental times in a person’s life, the researchers determined.
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Those who had losses during early adulthood — up to the early 40s — experienced a bigger increase in biological aging compared to those who lost loved ones during childhood or adolescence, Aiello told Fox News Digital.
“We observed a stronger impact from loss in older age, possibly due to resilience in younger individuals or because we had fewer cases of loss in younger age groups, which made it harder to detect significant effects,” she said.
More research needed, experts say
Daniel Tawfik, a molecular biologist and co-founder of Healthspan, a digital medical clinic based in Santa Monica, California, was not associated with the study but shared his insights on the findings.
“The recent JAMA study highlighting that bereavement may accelerate biological aging aligns with our understanding of how stress impacts the body,” Tawfik told Fox News Digital.
“It is essential for individuals in such circumstances to seek support, employ stress-reduction techniques and remain vigilant about their health,” a researcher said. (iStock)
The study’s exploration of the epigenetic markers offers an “intriguing insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress-related aging,” he said.
More research is needed to determine whether the age-related effects of losing a loved one are temporary or permanent, according to Tawfik.
“Epigenetic aging is dynamic, so there’s good reason to believe these changes can be reversed.”
“With only a single assessment point, it remains unclear how long these biological changes persist, the extent to which individuals can recover over time, and what specific interventions might mitigate these effects,” he said.
“Epigenetic aging is dynamic, so there’s good reason to believe these changes can be reversed.”
Aiello reiterated that additional research would help to confirm these findings.
“We need more data … in younger individuals and longer-term studies to better understand the immediate and long-lasting effects of loss on biological aging,” she said.
Healthy coping strategies
Aiello and Tawfik agreed that the study highlights the importance of effective coping strategies after the loss of a loved one.
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“It is essential for individuals in such circumstances to seek support, employ stress-reduction techniques and remain vigilant about their health,” Tawfik told Fox News Digital.
“Proactive management may help alleviate some of the physiological burdens associated with bereavement.”
More research is needed to determine whether the age-related effects of losing a loved one are temporary or permanent, according to a researcher. (iStock)
Future studies should focus on how specific coping strategies and support systems could help decrease the impact a loss has on the biological aging process, according to Aiello.
This could then guide medical professionals and public health strategies to improve outcomes after a loss, she said.
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The study was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Add Health, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Aging, the Carolina Population Center, and other federal agencies and foundations.
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A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications.
The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway.
This discovery appears to explain how GLP-1 drugs — which mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite — protect heart tissue from a condition known as “no-reflow.”
“In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny blood vessels within the heart muscle remain narrowed, even after the main artery is cleared during emergency medical treatment,” Dr. Svetlana Mastitskaya, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer at Bristol Medical School, said in a press release.
“This results in a complication known as ‘no-reflow,’ where blood is unable to reach certain parts of the heart tissue.”
In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny capillaries (blood vessels) remain narrowed even after the main blocked artery is cleared. (iStock)
This lack of blood flow increases the risk of heart failure and death within a year. GLP-1 medications could prevent this, according to the researchers.
How it works
When the GLP-1 hormone is released in the gut or administered as a drug, it sends a signal to the brain, which then sends a signal to the heart that switches on special potassium channels in tiny cells called pericytes.
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When these channels open, the pericytes relax, which allows the small blood vessels (capillaries) to widen and improve blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers noted.
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The new study used animal models and cellular imaging to track how GLP-1 interacts with heart tissue. When the researchers removed the potassium channels, the drugs no longer protected the heart — confirming they play a key role.
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments. (iStock)
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments during or immediately after a heart attack to reduce tissue damage.
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The researchers noted several limitations, including that the study relied on animal models.
Clinical trials are necessary to determine whether the brain-gut-heart pathway operates with the same timing and efficacy in humans.
While the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it des not establish whether long-term use of these drugs provides a pre-existing level of protection. (iStock)
Additionally, while the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it does not establish whether long-term use of the medication provides a pre-existing level of protection.
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The research was primarily funded by the British Heart Foundation.
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
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“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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