Difficult people in your life AGE you 1.5% faster, study warns

"Each additional hassler is associated with faster biological ageing. [There are] especially pronounced effects when the hassler is a family member. This study highlights that the 'dark side' of social connections can wear down physiological resilience and hasten aging and the development of multiple morbidities."

"Analysis revealed that for each additional hassler a person regularly interacted with, their rate of biological ageing increased by around 1.5 per cent. It means a person struggling with a 'hassler' in their life might age by about 1.015 biological years for every calendar year."

"Although this yearly increase is modest, it accumulates over time. Over a 10-year period, this faster rate results in measurable biological aging effects that can have implications for health and life expectancy, as it signifies cells are deteriorating faster than they should be."

Researchers from New York University analyzed data from over 2,000 people to examine how difficult relationships affect biological aging. Participants reported on individuals who hassled them or created problems during the previous six months, and provided saliva samples for DNA analysis. Results showed that each additional hassler increased biological aging rate by approximately 1.5% annually. This means cells deteriorate faster than chronological age suggests, accumulating over time and increasing risk for chronic diseases like cancer and dementia. The effect was particularly pronounced when the hassler was a family member, demonstrating that negative social connections can wear down physiological resilience.

Read at Mail Online