HEALTHY LIFESTYLE DECREASES CELLULAR AGING CAUSED BY STRESS

A new study has found that major stressful events such as the loss of a job or the death of a loved one accelerate aging at the cellular level.  But, individuals who maintain healthy patterns of diet, activity, and sleep minimize the damage that major stressors exert on our cells.

Researchers assessed cellular "aging" by measuring telomere length.  Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that affect how quickly cells age. They are combinations of DNA and proteins that protect the ends of chromosomes and help them remain stable. As they become shorter, and as their structural integrity weakens, the cells age and die quicker. In recent years, shorter telomeres have become associated with a broad range of aging-related diseases, including stroke, vascular dementia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis diabetes, and many forms of cancer.

In the study, researchers tracked physical activity, dietary intake and sleep quality of 239 post-menopausal, non-smoking women for one year. The women provided blood samples at the beginning and end of the year for telomere measurement and reported on any stressful events that occurred. length  Among women who had lower levels of healthy behaviors, for every major life stressor that occurred during the year there was a significantly greater decline in telomere length. Yet women who maintained active lifestyles, healthy diets, and good quality sleep appeared protected when exposed to stress -- accumulated life stressors did not appear to lead to greater shortening.

What to do:  While we cannot avoid experiencing stressful events, we can make an effort to maintain healthy behaviors even when experiencing stress.  Building healthy habits into your life situation such as meal planning, minimizing TV time (less TV is associated with more sleep), and establishing convenient ways to get activity (such as getting a treadmill) can help you weather stressful times while not abandoning healthy behaviors.

Adapted from articles available at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140729073524.htm

http://www.foodexposed.co.za/uc-study-reveals-that-accumulative-life-stressors-can-be-modified-by-a-healthy-lifestyle/

http://www.medicaldaily.com/slow-down-stress-related-cell-aging-healthy-lifestyle-eat-right-exercise-and-sleep-well-295394

Source:

Puterman E, Lin J, Krauss K, Blackburn EH, Epel ES. Determinants of telomere attrition over 1 year in healthy older women: stress and health behaviors matter. Molecular Psychiatry, 2014; DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.70.