Let’s start with factors that speed up aging. A surprising set of forces can prompt your body to grow older before its time. When you think of things that speed up looking and feeling older, factors such as sun exposure, stress, or smoking might top the list. But here’s one you might not have considered: worrying about aging may actually leave its mark on the body in a similar way. Anxiety about the aging process—especially fears about declining health—may lead to changes in how genes function, contributing to accelerated aging, according to a study involving 726 midlife women published in the February 2026 issue of Psychoneuroendocrinology. Women who felt more anxious about getting older tended to show faster signs of aging—meaning their bodies looked older at a cellular level, based on how their genes switched on and off. This study and others illuminate how our age is more than just the number of candles on our birthday cake. Chronological age, which dates from when we were born, is one form. But biological age describes how well our body is functioning, and it’s estimated by measures such as physical fitness, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. As one might guess, genes factor into the latter, accounting for up to 50% of how slowly or quickly we age. But that means the other half is up to us. There’s a big difference between your birthdays and your biological age—and only the latter can be changed. In the last decade, scientists have discovered that biological aging rates are malleable, and at least half of the rate depends on our lifestyle. The good news is that at least half our future health is in our own hands
What causes aging? Much research was aimed at revealing a universal driver of the aging process. It boils down to how effectively bodies read their genes and shows that we are not machines.
Some factors that speed aging—and visible signs of aging—include the following:
► obesity
► smoking
► a sedentary lifestyle, which leads to muscle loss
► chronic stress, which fuels levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone” that ramps up inflammation
► poor sleep, which means less repair time for the brain and body
► ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, which damages DNA.
There are two ways to age faster. One is being in abundance mode, which is anything that makes your body think times are really good, such as too much sitting or too much food. The other way is to damage your cells. With things like getting sunburned, we think it accelerates the biological aging process because cells cannot cope.
Surprising contributors
Other forces that can more rapidly age us aren’t necessarily top of mind, such as these:
► more than occasional alcohol use
► excess radiation exposure
► air pollution and industrial pollutants
► shift work, which throws off key biological rhythms.
But the following aging, which are catalysts that might never have been on your radar:
Yo-yo dieting. While there’s no direct evidence, research suggests that rapid changes to cells or their environments occur in the frequent cycles of weight gain and weight loss known as yo-yo dieting—could accelerate genetic changes. Theoretically, at any time there’s a large change to a cell, aging ticks a little faster.
Exposure to bright light or loud music. Both are linked to elevated stress hormones and even cardiovascular
strain. Bright light and loud music are underappreciated as a cause of sensory aging.
Loneliness and social isolation. Research suggests these confer comparable health risks. Interacting with family and friends is quite important for humans. We’re made to be social.
Gut health imbalance. The trillions of microbes that populate the gut, known as the microbiome, influence inflammation levels and immune system function. A healthy diet optimizes the microbiome, while highly processed foods can skew the balance between good and bad bacteria. Inflammation in the body can accelerate aging, especially when it’s chronic.
HOW TO SLOW AGING
What helps slow the clock and promote healthy-aging? Obviously, the main rule is to avoid the factors above that accelerate aging, but some research also supports measures such as the following:
► regular exercise
► consistent, high-quality sleep
► a plant-forward diet
► strong social connections
► a positive outlook and sense of purpose.
If you compare people who do these things above with those who don’t, there’s sometimes a decade of difference in their biological aging. We believe small changes in lifestyle can make a big difference down the road. And it’s never too late to start, though it’s better to start early.
Below is a link to obtain my books available for purchase (digital or print versions):
Website: https://radiantmortontavel.com/
To be placed on the mailing list for future blogs, contact: tavelmorton@gmail.com
Below is a link to obtain my books available for purchase (digital or print versions):
Website: https://radiantmortontavel.com/
To be placed on the mailing list for future blogs, contact: tavelmorton@gmail.com