Published on
Updated
Reading 2 min.
Losing a loved one is not only emotionally painful and even traumatic, but can also have significant impacts on physical health, accelerating biological aging, according to a US study.
A recent studyfrom Columbia University, reveals that the loss of a loved one leaves indelible marks on mental and physical health, accelerating biological aging.
The researchers analyzed data from 3,963 participants, nearly 40 percent of whom had lost a loved one as adults, between the ages of 33 and 43. The results showed that those “who had suffered a greater number of losses had a significantly higher biological age than those who had not suffered such losses.”
“Our study demonstrates the strong links between the loss of loved ones, from childhood to adulthood, and faster biological aging.” explains Allison Aiello, professor of epidemiology and author of the study, in a communicated.
People who experienced two or more losses had a higher biological age according to several epigenetic clocks, DNA markers that measure this type of aging.The link between loss of a loved one and lifelong health problems is well established.“, the researcher emphasizes.”Certain life stages may be more vulnerable to health risks associated with loss, and the accumulation of losses appears to be a crucial factor” she adds.
Losing a parent, although more common in adulthood than in childhood and adolescence, can be particularly traumatic, leading to cognitive impairment, increased risk of heart disease, and a higher likelihood of premature mortality. Repeated losses also increase the risk of dementia and heart disease.
The study also highlights that the effects of loss on health and biological age could contribute to health disparities between racial and ethnic groups. More than half of black participants (57%) experienced at least one loss, compared with 41% of Hispanics and 34% of white participants.
“We do not yet fully understand how loss leads to poor health and higher mortality, but biological aging may be one mechanism suggested in our study (…) For those who experience loss, providing resources to cope and process the trauma is essential.”concludes Allison Aiello.
Slideshow: Grief: Books to Help Your Child