A new study shows that certain compounds in everyday products can particularly increase the biological age of men in their 50s.
They are found in frying pans, rain jackets and plastic packaging – and could cause middle-aged men in particular to age biologically faster than the calendar suggests. This is suggested by a current study published in the specialist journal Frontiers in Aging was published.
PFAS: Ubiquitous chemicals with long residence times
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Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, or PFAS for short, are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals that have been used for decades in numerous everyday products – from non-stick coatings and water-repellent textiles to food packaging and cleaning products. Their trademark: extremely stable molecular compounds that can hardly be broken down. That is why they are also called “forever chemicals”. PFAS can now be detected almost everywhere – in soil, water and in human blood.
It is already known that PFAS are linked to cancer (according to IARC), obesity, infertility and hormonal imbalances. A new study by Chinese researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine now shows: Certain PFAS compounds could also accelerate the biological aging process – especially in men between 50 and 64 years old.
The study: Epigenetic clocks as a measuring tool
For their investigation, scientists led by Dr. Xiangwei Li publicly available data from 326 adults aged 50 and over collected as part of the 1999 and 2000 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Both the PFAS concentrations in the blood and so-called epigenetic clocks were measured in all participants.
These clocks are based on DNA methylation patterns – how certain genes are turned on or off by chemical tags. These patterns change over the course of life – influenced by certain lifestyle factors and aging. They are considered reliable indicators of a person’s biological age, which may differ from the calendar age. So your pattern can be similar to that of a 45-year-old – regardless of whether you are actually only 40 or already 60. A total of twelve different such epigenetic clocks were evaluated.
The result: Two specific PFAS compounds – perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) – were detected in the blood of 95 percent of study participants. Higher concentrations of these substances were associated with significantly accelerated epigenetic aging in men between 50 and 64 years of age. This connection was not observed in women.
Why middle-aged men are particularly at risk
But why does it affect middle-aged men so badly? “Midlife is a biologically sensitive period when the body becomes more susceptible to age-related stressors – this may explain why this group responds more strongly to chemical exposures,” said Dr. Ya-Qian Xu, lead author of the study, in a press release.
Study leader Li added: “We suspect that men may be at higher risk because the aging markers we analyzed are strongly influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can increase the harmful effects of these pollutants.”
On average, men lead an unhealthier lifestyle than women, as regular reports from health institutions such as the Robert Koch Institute show.
What you can do to slow down your biological aging
Although PFAS exposure cannot be completely avoided, there are practical steps to reduce exposure. “Individuals can try to limit their consumption of packaged foods and avoid heating fast food containers in the microwave,” advises Dr. Li.
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In addition, it is worth actively investing in your own health – because a healthy lifestyle can demonstrably counteract biological aging:
- Targeted muscle training can slow down the aging process and maintain physical vitality in the long term. Here you will find the 2-day muscle building plan from Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gießing.
- Sufficiently good sleep is important for the recovery of body and mind. According to studies, chronic lack of sleep and sleep disorders can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia, among other things. In our sleep guide you will find many tips on how you can improve your sleep – you can download the PDF for free here.
- A balanced diet is another adjustment screw that is scientifically linked to a lower biological age. The Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean diet) is one of the healthiest forms of nutrition.
- The psychological well-being should not be underestimated for healthy aging. Stress, fears and loneliness have been proven to have negative effects on our physical health and thus on our biological age. Regularly ensure periods of relaxation and self-care and maintain social contacts. Click here for the 21-day slow-down plan.
In an interview, longevity expert Nils Behrens reveals six approaches on how you can slow down aging.