Researchers used information from 726 women who took part in the MIDUS study. The women answered questions about three worries: becoming less attractive, having more health problems, and being too old to have children.
Blood samples were taken to measure biological aging with two epigenetic clocks. The main result was that worry about getting older, especially health worries, was linked to faster biological aging. The link became weaker after the study accounted for smoking and alcohol use.
Difficult words
- researcher — person who studies or checks scientific questionsResearchers
- worry — feeling of concern or fear about somethingworries
- epigenetic clock — biological tool that estimates how old cells areepigenetic clocks
- biological aging — changes in body functions as a person gets older
- link — show a relationship between two thingslinked
- account — include a factor in an analysisaccounted
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which worry worries you most and why?
- Do you think smoking and alcohol affect aging? Why?
- Have you ever given a blood sample? How did you feel?
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