Psychosocial Stressors and Telomere Length: A Current Review of the Science. Annu Rev Public Health 2020 Apr 02;41:223-245
Date
01/05/2020Pubmed ID
31900099DOI
10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094239Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85082933448 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 78 CitationsAbstract
A growing literature suggests that exposure to adverse social conditions may accelerate biological aging, offering one mechanism through which adversity may increase risk for age-related disease. As one of the most extensively studied biological markers of aging, telomere length (TL) provides a valuable tool to understand potential influences of social adversity on the aging process. Indeed, a sizeable literature now links a wide range of stressors to TL across the life span. The aim of this article is to review and evaluate this extant literature with a focus on studies that investigate psychosocial stress exposures and experiences in early life and adulthood. We conclude by outlining potential biological and behavioral mechanisms through which psychosocial stress may influence TL, and we discuss directions for future research in this area.
Author List
Rentscher KE, Carroll JE, Mitchell CAuthor
Kelly E. Rentscher PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Child
Child Abuse
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Life Change Events
Male
Middle Aged
Stress, Psychological
Telomere Shortening
Young Adult
