Chronic Stress: The Master Hallmark of Aging
Keywords:
Chronic stress, Aging, Altered Intercellular Communication, Cellular Senescence, Chronic Inflammation, Deregulated Nutrient-Sensing Pathways, Impaired Autophagy, Dysbiosis, Epigenetic Alterations, Genomic Instability, Loss of Proteostasis, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Stem Cell Exhaustion, Telomere AttritionAbstract
Chronic stress is a pervasive force in modern life, significantly impacting emotional well-being and physical health. This paper explores the profound effects of chronic stress on aging, positioning it as the master hallmark of aging. Chronic stress affects emotional regulation and cognitive functioning. It is also linked to various physical illnesses, including heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, autoimmune symptoms, and contributing to accelerated aging markers. This paper discusses the central role of chronic stress in the psychoneurobiology of aging and the imbalance between the sympathetic arousal and parasympathetic recovery branches of the nervous system, leading to autonomic dysregulation. This dysregulation causes all systems in the body to work harder, generating more wear and tear and toxic waste products and leading to a breakdown in adaptation. The paper identifies the "Four Horsemen of Chronic Stress"— evolutionary mismatch, developmental lessons from childhood, the stress-success association, and conditioned stressors—as key structural factors driving chronic stress and autonomic imbalance. It also examines the impact of chronic stress on the 12 hallmarks of aging. While not presenting an exhaustive review of all the relevant evidence, this paper is focused on establishing the fundamental role of chronic stress in modulating the process of aging, along with a comprehensive model of resilience that incorporates all factors important in restoring and maintaining organismic balance and optimal adaptability and function.
