Losing a close family member such as a parent, partner, sibling, or child or is a devastating emotional experience. But new research has revealed this type of loss can also accelerate biological ageing.
The study, conducted by Columbia University and published in the JAMA Network Open journal, also showed losing multiple loved ones, and losing them at an earlier age, only worsens the effect.
This might not be a surprise to anyone who has lost a loved one, but the research is actually one of the first to map the physical damage grief and loss can do on a cellular level.
Professor Allison Aiello, lead author of the study, says she also wanted to measure the impact loss at certain ages has on biological ageing overall.
“Few studies have looked at how losing a loved one at different stages of life affects these DNA markers,” she says.
“Our study shows strong links between losing loved ones across the life course from childhood to adulthood and faster biological ageing.”
‘Biological ageing’ refers to the gradual decline in organ and cell function that happens naturally as you age – but can also be sped up by external factors. Increasing your biological age in turn increases your risk of chronic diseases.
This process is measured by using DNA tests known as ‘epigenetic clocks’. These tests can determine the chemical makeup of certain types of DNA, which can tell you their biological age.
What did the results show?
The study used data from blood samples taken between 1994 and the present by another long-term study tracking the health of adolescents moving into adulthood. Prof. Aiello and her team found 4500 participants who had given samples all the way through to age 43.
Using epigenetic clock tests, the researchers measured the physical effects losses experienced up to age 18 (childhood loss) and then from age 19 to 43 (adult loss), as well as the effects of cumulative losses.
The tests showed those who experienced childhood loss had a greater biological age (more organ, tissue and cell damage) than those who didn’t, but that loss at any time appeared to introduce cell damage.
It also showed that each time a person experiences the death of a loved one, this ageing process accelerates even further. Almost 40 per cent of people in the study experienced at least one significant loss between the ages of 33 and 43.
Prof. Aiello says that while loss at any age can have enduring health impacts, the consequences appear to be more severe if it happens during your formative years.
“We still don’t fully understand how loss leads to poor health and higher mortality, but biological ageing may be one mechanism as suggested in our study,” she says.
“Future research should focus on finding ways to reduce disproportionate losses among vulnerable groups. For those who experience loss, providing resources for coping and addressing the trauma is essential.”
She says the findings highlight the need for better support systems for people grieving the loss of a loved one, especially younger ones.
Did you experience the loss of a loved one at a young age? How do you think it’s affected you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: What is pre-death grief and how can you support someone going through it?
