Women who report higher levels of anxiety about aging, particularly fears related to declining health, may experience faster biological aging, according to a study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology.1 The findings were reported in February 2026 by New York University.2
The research examined whether concerns about aging are associated with measurable changes at the cellular level. Investigators found that health-related aging anxiety correlated with a faster pace of biological aging in women.
The study analyzed data from 726 women participating in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, a nationally representative longitudinal research project conducted in the United States.2 Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing aging anxiety and provided biological samples for laboratory analysis.
Aging anxiety was categorized into three domains:
Fear of health decline
Concerns about loss of attractiveness
Worries about reduced fertility
The researchers then examined whether these concerns were associated with biological age. During a conversation with Rachel Harrison from NYU, Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at the NYU School of Global Public Health and the first author of the study, stated:
Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of aging. Aging-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences.
Mariana Rodrigues, PhD student, NYU School of Global Public Health
Scientists used epigenetic clocks to measure biological aging. Epigenetic clocks estimate biological age by analyzing DNA methylation patterns, chemical modifications that regulate gene activity without altering the DNA sequence.
Two established measures were used:
DunedinPACE, which estimates the current pace of aging
GrimAge2, which reflects cumulative biological damage and has been associated with mortality risk
The study reported that higher health-related aging anxiety was linked to faster aging as measured by DunedinPACE. Concerns about physical appearance or reproductive aging did not show a statistically significant association.1
We know from previous research that anxiety, depression, and mental health in general are associated with a number of physical health outcomes, but until now researchers haven’t focused on whether there is a correlation between worrying about aging and the process of aging itself.
Mariana Rodrigues, PhD student, NYU School of Global Public Health
The researchers suggest that chronic psychological stress may activate physiological stress pathways, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Repeated activation of stress systems can contribute to inflammation and cellular changes that influence biological aging.
However, the study does not establish causation. When researchers adjusted for health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index, the strength of the association decreased.1
This indicates that lifestyle factors may partly explain the relationship between aging anxiety and biological aging.
Our research identifies aging anxiety as a measurable and modifiable psychological determinant that seems to be shaping aging biology.
Adolfo Cuevas, Associate Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences, NYU School of Global Public Health
The study provides evidence that psychological perceptions of aging may be linked to measurable biological markers in women. It does not demonstrate that anxiety directly accelerates aging. Instead, it highlights an association between health-related fears and cellular aging indicators.
Biological age differs from chronological age. While chronological age measures years lived, biological age reflects accumulated cellular and molecular changes. Epigenetic clocks are increasingly used in research to understand how psychological and environmental factors influence aging processes.
Further longitudinal studies are required to determine whether reducing aging anxiety or modifying health behaviors can alter biological aging trajectories.
1. Rodrigues, Mariana, Jemar R. Bather, and Adolfo G. Cuevas. 2026. “Aging Anxiety and Epigenetic Aging in a National Sample of Adult Women in the United States.” Psychoneuroendocrinology 184: 107704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107704.
2. New York University. 2026. “Worrying About Aging May Actually Age Women Faster.” New York University News, February 9, 2026. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2026/february/aging-anxiety.html
(Rh/SS/MSM)
