Aging process could be accelerated due to exposure to ‘permanent chemicals’, study finds

A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”

The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could affect aging at the cellular level.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.

Their chemical structure makes them very resistant to decomposition, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.

Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.

The researchers measured the levels of 11 PFAS compounds in the participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” (tools that analyze chemical changes in DNA to estimate biological age) to determine how quickly their bodies aged at the cellular level, the study stated.

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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.

Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men in certain age groups, but not in women.

“People shouldn’t panic.”

The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.

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“The associations were stronger in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and corresponding author of the study, told News Digital.

“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”

According to researchers, middle age may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors.

Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, can influence biological markers of aging, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.

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While Li said “people should not panic,” he does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.

That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.

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Significant reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.

Limitations of the study

The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including the fact that the findings show an association but do not prove that PFAS directly cause accelerated aging.

“The study is cross-sectional, meaning that exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told News Digital.

The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults aged 50 and older, meaning the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.

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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and current exposure patterns may differ.

Li added that while PFAS are known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated by larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.