In the present era, men are surprisingly experiencing premature aging at a faster rate, and an important reason behind it has now been identified.
A study conducted by the School of Medicine at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China found that so called forever chemicals known as PFAS play a role in accelerating premature aging in men.
According to the research, human made chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, speed up the aging process in men over the age of 50.
PFAS are chemicals used in the production of various items such as furniture and food packaging. They are commonly known as forever chemicals because they take a very long time to break down naturally.
These chemicals had previously been linked to various diseases including heart disease and cancer. The study found that exposure to these chemicals accelerates the rate of biological aging in men.
While a person’s age is generally determined by their date of birth, known as chronological age, there is also a biological age in medical terms, which reflects the condition of physical and mental functions.
Genes, lifestyle, and other factors influence biological age, and the higher this age, the greater the risk of various diseases.
The study analyzed data from a group of 326 elderly men and women who participated in a US survey conducted in 1999 and 2000.
Blood samples from these individuals were examined for the presence of 11 types of PFAS chemicals. Researchers then assessed how these chemicals affected biological age.
The researchers found that these forever chemicals accelerated biological aging in men aged between 50 and 64, while no significant effects were observed in women.
They said the findings are important, but there is no need to panic, rather there is a need to avoid exposure to these chemicals.
The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Aging.
