Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Pandemic Stress Linked to Faster Epigenetic Aging in Adolescents
Researchers in Germany compared saliva samples from more than 1,000 children, teenagers and young adults, collected before the first COVID-19 lockdown and again in 2021–2022.
Three of four epigenetic clocks showed increased aging measures in parts of the group after the pandemic began.
These clocks measure age-related changes in DNA, but the findings do not mean that people necessarily became older in the usual sense.
Only adolescents showed a link between felt stress and faster aging when researchers compared the results with participants’ accounts of pandemic hardships.
Teenagers who felt more affected by limits on their freedom and separation from important people showed stronger signs, though results varied by clock.
Higher body mass index and exposure to smoking were also linked to faster aging measures across age groups.
Researchers say long-term follow-up is needed to find out whether the changes last or predict later health problems.
A study found that pandemic-related stress was linked to faster epigenetic aging in adolescents, but not in children or adults.
Researchers analyzed saliva samples from more than 1,000 people in Germany collected before and after the pandemic began.
Three of four epigenetic clocks showed significant increases in age acceleration or pace of aging in two age groups.
Among adolescents, those reporting greater stress from restrictions and separation from important people showed stronger signs of accelerated aging.
The researchers said long-term follow-up is needed to determine whether the changes persist or predict later health problems.
- Who
- Researchers led by neuroscientist Alicia Schowe at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry studied children, adolescents and adults in Germany.
- What
- The study found pandemic stress was linked to faster epigenetic aging in adolescents. It also found age-related changes on three of four epigenetic clocks.
- When
- Samples were collected before the first German lockdown in March 2020 and again in 2021–2022. The study was published in 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Researchers examined whether the COVID-19 pandemic, as a major shared stressor, was associated with detectable epigenetic changes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers collected saliva samples from children, adolescents and adults before Germany’s first lockdown.
Germany entered its first lockdown.
Researchers collected saliva samples again after the country emerged from its second national lockdown.
The study was reported in PNAS.
- Sample size
- More than 1,000 people
- Study location
- Germany
- Age groups
- Children aged approximately 8–10, adolescents aged 14–16, and adults aged 20–29
- Epigenetic clocks
- Three of four showed significant increases in age acceleration or pace of aging in two age groups
- Adolescent finding
- Greater reported stress from restrictions and separation was associated with stronger signs of accelerated aging
What people are saying
This suggests that adolescence may be a time period that is especially sensitive to the effects of stress
Long-term follow-up will be needed to confirm whether these changes persist and predict adverse health outcomes later in life.