Recent research reveals that the death of a family member or partner can lead to accelerated biological aging.

Among nearly 4,000 participants, almost 40% experienced at least one loss in adulthood, with parental loss being more common during this period.

Participants who suffered two or more losses showed significantly older biological ages, indicating that multiple bereavements have a more profound impact than a single loss.

The study highlights the long-term health effects of grief, particularly focusing on losses experienced during childhood and early adulthood.

Lead author Dr. Allison Aiello emphasized that losing a close person is a major stressor linked to various health issues, including mental health decline and increased mortality risk.

The research found that Black and Hispanic participants reported higher rates of loss compared to their White counterparts, with 57% and 41% respectively.

The co-authors of the study stress the need for future research to understand how loss impacts health and advocate for resources to help individuals cope with grief.

Elissa Epel, a professor at UCSF, noted that this research is the first to demonstrate the effect of added sugars on epigenetic aging.

This study coincided with separate research on diet, which found that women consuming a nutrient-rich diet had younger biological ages, while high added sugar intake correlated with increased biological age.

The findings were published in JAMA Network Open, contributing to the understanding of health disparities related to loss and the importance of coping strategies.

Data for the study was sourced from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which has tracked participants since the mid-1990s.