New research suggests that middle-aged man They may be more vulnerable to accelerated biological aging, which may be associated with exposure to “permanent chemicals.”
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, looked at the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. Effect on aging At the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics, and other consumer products, the study notes.
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Due to its chemical structure, it is difficult to break down and accumulates in water, soil, and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2000.
The researchers measured the levels of 11 PFAS compounds in the participants’ blood and used a DNA-based “epigenetic clock,” a tool that analyzes and estimates chemical changes in DNA. biological age The study states that this is to determine how quickly their bodies age at a cellular level.
Two compounds were detected in 95% of participants: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA).
High concentrations of these chemicals were associated with accelerated biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
The researchers noted that the compounds most strongly implicated in accelerated aging are not the PFAS chemicals that typically attract the most public attention.
“This association was strongest among adults aged 50 to 64, especially men,” Dr. Shanwei Li, professor of medicine at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and corresponding author of the study, told FOX News Digital.
“While this does not prove that PFAS cause aging, it does suggest that these widespread ‘forever chemicals’ may be associated with molecular changes associated with aging.” long term health And aging too. ”
Researchers say midlife may be a more biologically sensitive period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors.
Lifestyle factorsThings like smoking can affect biological markers of aging and increase vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
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“People shouldn’t panic,” Lee said, but encouraged them to look for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of products that are resistant to dirt and oil when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure are likely to rely on a broader range of measures regulatory measures Lee added that efforts to clean up the environment are also important.
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the study, including that while the findings show an association, they do not prove that PFAS directly cause accelerated aging.
“The study was cross-sectional, meaning that exposure and markers of aging were measured simultaneously, so we cannot determine causality,” Lee told FOX News Digital.
This study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults. Over 50 years oldThis means that the findings may not apply to younger people or the broader population.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, but today’s exposure patterns may be different.
Li added that PFAS are known to persist in the environment and in the body, but these results should be verified through larger, more recent studies that followed participants over long periods of time.
