It is well known that stressful events in life can lead to premature brain aging. Recently, a study has found that gene mutations interact with various types of stress. These stress include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain and sleep disorders associated with cell aging.
The Klotho gene, named after Clotho, the Greek goddess responsible for textile life, is thought to be associated with longevity and various age-related diseases. This is the first time that it has been shown to be a marker of accelerated aging of human cells. The study was recently published in Brain, Behavior & Immunity.
The study recruited 309 U.S. veterans, a large proportion of whom suffered from PTSD and participated in wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. All participants provided blood samples for genetic and metabolic analysis and assessment of their mental status. They also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine brain structure and function.
Researchers found that those with a specific Klotho genotype and more severe PTSD symptoms showed the strongest signs of accelerated cell aging.
Dr Erika J. Wolf, a clinical psychologist at the Psychiatry Department of Boston University Medical School and the National PTSD Center for VeteransHealth Care System in Boston, who wrote the study, said: "We know that stress increases the risk of health decline. Our results suggest that Klotho may be a factor in coordinating peripheral and central nervous system decline, making individuals with severe mental stress more susceptible to pathological effects.
According to researchers, the study points to new directions that may help slow or reverse accelerated aging, thereby curbing stress and age-related health declines.
"These results help us understand the pathophysiology of accelerated aging and increase the possibility that Klotho may become a new therapeutic target to prevent age-related inflammation, metabolic dysfunction and loss ofneurointegrity," Wolf added.
Researchers hope that the next step will be to identify the pathological mechanism of stress-related cells accelerating aging, so as to develop new therapies targeting related pathways. They believe that this will eventually reverse or slow down the pace of cell aging and reduce the risk of age-related health decline in stressed people.
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