Is Stress Making You Biologically Older?

You can feel it in your body: tight shoulders, restless sleep, and that overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but what if it’s ageing you faster than it should?

Many assume that wrinkles, fatigue, and memory decline are just part of growing older. However, emerging research confirms that chronic stress accelerates biological ageing, impacting everything from DNA integrity to cardiovascular health. 

At DoNotAge.org, a Health Research Organisation, we fund and lead research into the science of healthy ageing. A growing body of evidence shows that stress-induced ageing isn’t inevitable, and that the right approach can slow the process and protect long-term health.

Connection Between Mental and Physical Health

Contrary to popular belief, mental health and physical health are not entirely separate entities. Mental health can have a huge impact on the body, and therefore, both physical and mental health are of vital importance. Unfortunately, researchers are not yet able to fully understand all the ways that the human mind and body are connected. All that we know for sure is that a person's state of mind can have an astronomical impact on their body's ability to function.

Health

When it comes to an exact definition of health, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterizes health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This shows that it recognizes that good mental health is just as crucial as good physical health.

Despite the fact that mental illness is an ailment of the brain rather than the body, they are not entirely separate. Studies suggest that poor mental health could reduce the average human lifespan by as much as 20 years. This is due to a multitude of reasons, including its impact on decision-making skills and the body's ability to defend itself against chronic diseases.

There are many different ways in which mental illness can affect a person's physical health. Everyone is different, so they will have different responses to certain biological and environmental factors.

How Stress Accelerates Ageing

1. Stress Shortens Your Telomeres—Your DNA’s Protective Caps

Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of your DNA. They prevent genetic damage, similar to how plastic tips protect shoelaces from fraying. Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten. When they become too short, cells stop functioning properly and die, accelerating biological ageing.

Studies confirm that chronic stress speeds up telomere shortening, leading to:

• Faster skin ageing—wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and decreased collagen production
• Increased risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and diabetes
• Weaker immune function, making you more prone to illness and infections

One landmark study found that individuals with high stress levels had telomeres comparable to people a decade older.

2. Stress Weakens Your Bones and Heart

Stress triggers the overproduction of cortisol, a hormone that, over time, contributes to:

✔ Reduced bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis
✔ Calcium loss, making bones more fragile
✔ Higher blood pressure and arterial damage, leading to cardiovascular disease

Without the right nutrients to counteract this, chronic stress can leave bones and the cardiovascular system weaker and more vulnerable to premature ageing.

3. Stress Disrupts Sleep and Energy Levels

Poor sleep is one of the most common consequences of chronic stress. Sleep deprivation accelerates ageing by:

✔ Increasing inflammation, which damages skin, joints, and brain function
✔ Weakening cognitive function, leading to brain fog and memory issues
✔ Slowing muscle recovery and repair, making fatigue worse

Many individuals under chronic stress also experience magnesium depletion, which is essential for relaxation and sleep regulation. Without enough magnesium, it becomes harder to switch off, fall asleep, and recover properly.

4. Stress Depletes Vitamin D, K2 & Magnesium Levels

Stress rapidly depletes key nutrients that support cellular repair, immune function, and longevity:

✔ Vitamin D3—Essential for bone health, mood regulation, and immune support
✔ Vitamin K2—Directs calcium to bones and prevents arterial calcification
✔ Magnesium—Helps regulate stress hormones, improve sleep, and support muscle recovery

When stress remains chronic, your body burns through these nutrients faster, leaving you more vulnerable to ageing, inflammation, and chronic disease.

How to Slow Down Stress-Induced Ageing