Does anxiety affect longevity?

Chronic anxiety is a disorder that affects physical health and, therefore, longevity. In addition, new epigenetic research has found that anxiety is linked to faster aging, and having specific genes may accelerate the effect.

Index

• What is anxiety?
• How does anxiety affect longevity?
• Why does anxiety affect life expectancy?
• Anxiety and accelerated aging
• Tips for avoiding anxiety and prolonging longevity

What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, nervousness, worry, fear or panic about what is about to happen or may happen. It is a feeling that arises in the face of a danger, problem or threat that is about to happen.

Anxiety is a normal and natural emotion that we all experience in certain situations. It is an adaptive response of the body that helps us cope with danger or stressful situations by making us alert and preparing us for action. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent and overwhelming, it can become an anxiety disorder, which negatively affects a person's quality of life.

The main symptoms of anxiety are:

- Feeling of nervousness, agitation or tension.

- Increased heart rate

- Hyperventilation

- Excessive sweating

- Tremors

- Feeling weak or tired

- Shortness of breath

- Headache

- Trouble concentrating or thinking about something else

- Trouble sleeping

- Gastrointestinal disturbances

- Mood swings, irritability, and impatience

Chronic, non-physiological anxiety (without a specific cause) is a personality disorder or mental illness that is considered a risk for serious diseases, such as diabetes, respiratory problems, heart disease, chronic pain and addiction.

How does anxiety affect longevity?

Studies show that overreacting, constant worrying and living in a state of perpetual anxiety can reduce life expectancy. Psychological distress, even at relatively low levels, is associated with an increased risk of death.

Anxiety is a major and, unfortunately, very common disruptor in everyday life. When anxiety is the result of a real or impending problem, it can trigger actions necessary to mitigate harm and prevent harm. However, constant feelings of worry can make it difficult to enjoy the people around you and any activity you do. If you suffer from chronic anxiety, you probably find it very difficult to concentrate on anything other than the anxiety you feel. Unfortunately, chronic anxiety can significantly shorten lifespan.

Many studies have found a link between anxiety-prone personality and shorter lifespan. Researchers refer to the tendency to always react to frustration, loss or threat with negative emotions as neuroticism and have found this trait to be pervasive and worrisome.

A 2009 article published in American Psychology stated that “there is growing evidence that neuroticism is a psychological trait of profound public health importance. Neuroticism is a strong correlate and predictor of many different mental and physical disorders, including comorbidity.”

For example, in a 2008 study, researchers studied 1,600 men, ages 43 to 91, for 12 years to examine how those with neurotic personalities fared. At the end of the study, only 50 percent of the men with high or increasing neuroticism were alive compared to 75 to 85 percent of the other group who did not have this problem.

Another study found that people worn down by even mild distress, meaning they sometimes lay awake at night worrying or had trouble concentrating on tasks, for example, were 20 percent more likely to die over a 10-year period compared with people who did not report such symptoms.

That was true even after the researchers adjusted their results to account for unhealthy behaviors that often accompany anxiety and depression, such as smoking and heavy drinking. They also took into account things like exercise, weight and diabetes.

People with mild distress were 29% more likely to die of heart disease or stroke than people who did not report distress. Mild distress did not appear to increase the risk of cancer.

People with moderate levels of distress were 43% more likely to die from any cause. And people with high levels of distress were 94% more likely to die during the study than people without distress.

Why does anxiety affect life expectancy?
So far, there are no clear explanations as to why people with neurotic personalities have a shorter life expectancy than those who are better able to cope with life's problems and setbacks.

It is thought that it may be because neuroticism is related to high levels of cortisol, a hormone we secrete when we feel in danger.

The adrenal glands interpret psychological distress as a threat to personal safety. The adrenal glands begin to secrete the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol and the hormone epinephrine increase the heart rate and constrict the arteries to prepare the body to face and overcome the implied threat. Distress causes the adrenal glands to produce cortisol constantly. When this happens, serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood sugar levels and digestive problems such as stomach ulcers follow.

Another factor that can affect this shorter longevity is that people who are constantly anxious tend to have unhealthy habits. They are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol and other drugs, and engage in dangerous activities. These are all examples of unhealthy or maladaptive coping mechanisms.

 

Anxiety and accelerated aging

Research by DNA analysis company Muhdo reveals a striking connection between anxiety and biological aging. Through thousands of epigenetic health tests, they’ve found that individuals with anxiety experience accelerated aging compared to those without, with certain genetic predispositions making some more vulnerable than others.

Muhdo's analyses focus on DNA methylation, a key biomarker of tissue aging. In a recent study involving 88 participants aged 21 to 48, they discovered that those reporting anxiety showed a significant increase in biological age. By contrast, participants without anxiety exhibited either no significant change or even a decrease in biological age.

Notably, anxiety—not stress—was the key factor driving this accelerated aging. According to Collins, Muhdo's Head of Psychology, anxiety appears to have a distinct biological impact separate from general stress.

The study also highlighted a genetic component linked to neurotransmitter regulation, particularly the rs4680 (COMT) genotype, which influences dopamine levels. Participants with the AA genotype showed the highest susceptibility, with an average biological age increase of 4.4 years. Those with AG or GG genotypes also experienced accelerated aging but to a lesser degree (1.7 years on average).

While genetics may offer some protection, the findings underscore that anxiety accelerates aging regardless of genetic predisposition—a compelling reason to prioritize mental health in the quest for longevity.

Tips to avoid anxiety and extend your longevity.

• Move more. When we engage in physical activity, cortisol levels naturally drop, while exercise also releases healthy endorphins. These hormones elevate mood and can alleviate symptoms of depression. That's why one of the most effective tips for reducing anxiety is to exercise regularly.
• Breathing exercises can help, as can progressive muscle relaxation, visualization techniques, yoga, or a simple three-minute meditation to help you change your perspective. Mindfulness is relaxing and can take a person away from the stressors in their lives that are causing them harm.
• Try to sleep and rest well to be less stressed.
• Food is also important; eat a healthy diet and reduce caffeine.
• Take a more global view. The change of scenery may be all you need to help you control yourself and deal with any more problematic situations.
• Smile. Interestingly, studies show that even faking a smile can relieve stress and distress. The mere act of smiling, even if you don't feel much like it, can trick the mind into thinking you're really happy.
• Psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is psychology's most effective way of treating anxiety disorders. CBT is generally a short-term treatment and focuses on teaching you specific techniques to improve your symptoms and help you avoid situations that cause anxiety.
• If the medical professional sees it necessary, medications such as antidepressants or sedatives may be prescribed.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs. They give a sense of immediate relief, but do not solve the problem; instead, they cause many more and can increase anxiety.

 

KEY WORDS

• Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, nervousness, worry, fear or panic about what is about to happen or may happen. It is a feeling that arises in the face of a danger, problem or threat that is about to happen.
• The main symptoms are nervousness, agitation, increased heart rate, hyperventilation, sweating, trembling, weakness, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, gastrointestinal disturbances.
• Chronic, non-physiological anxiety (without a specific cause) is a personality disorder or mental illness that is considered a risk for serious illnesses, such as diabetes, respiratory problems, heart disease, chronic pain and addiction.
• Research shows that overreacting, constant worrying and living in a state of perpetual anxiety can reduce life expectancy. Psychological distress, even at relatively low levels, is associated with an increased risk of death.
• People with mild distress were 29% more likely to die of heart disease or stroke than people who reported no distress. Mild distress did not appear to increase the risk of cancer.
• People with moderate levels of distress were 43% more likely to die from any cause. And people with high levels of distress were 94% more likely to die during the study than people without distress.
• So far, there are no clear explanations as to why people with neurotic personalities tend to have a lower life expectancy than those who are better able to cope with life's blows. There is some evidence that neuroticism is related to high cortisol levels.
• Cortisol and the hormone epinephrine increase the heart rate and constrict the arteries to prepare the body to face and overcome the threat involved. Distress causes the adrenal glands to produce cortisol constantly. When this happens, serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood sugar levels and digestive problems such as stomach ulcers follow.
• Another factor in the relationship between neuroticism and lower life expectancy may be that people who are constantly anxious, stressed and depressed tend to have unhealthy habits.
• DNA analysis company Muhdo has conducted thousands of biological age and epigenetic health tests to develop better algorithms. In conducting these analyses, they found that people with anxiety showed accelerated biological aging compared to those without. Muhdo also found that people with certain genes appeared to be more susceptible than others to this increased aging.
• To avoid anxiety and live longer we should do regular physical exercise, breathing, mindfulness and yoga, sleep and rest well, eat a healthy diet, have a more global vision of things, smile more, go to psychotherapy if necessary or take antidepressants and sedatives in the most severe cases.

Source:

• Meier SM, Mattheisen M, Mors O, Mortensen PB, Laursen TM, Penninx BW. Increased mortality among people with anxiety disorders: total population study. Br J Psychiatry. 2016;209(3):216-21.

• Meiri N, Schnapp Z, Ankri A, et al. Fear of clowns in hospitalized children: prospective experience. Eur J Pediatr. 2017;176(2):269-272. 

• Mroczek DK, Spiro A. Personality change influences mortality in older men. Psychol Sci. 2007;18(5):371-6. 

• Smith TW, Mackenzie J. Personality and risk of physical illness. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2006;2:435-67. 

• Sarma M. Yoga as an alternative and complementary approach for stress management: a systematic review. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2014;19(1):59-67. 

 

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