Is Stress Aging You?

The alleged correlation of stress and gray strands is nothing new. “You’re giving me gray hairs!” is a common complaint among stressed-out parents everywhere. But could stress really be the culprit?

Duke University scientists say, “Yes.” Duke’s new research further supports existing evidence that stress can cause hair to turn gray prematurely. Published in the journal Nature, the study found that while undergoing severe stress, our bodies release chemicals that can damage DNA and cause us to look older.

The experiment was conducted on mice that were infused with a compound similar to adrenaline. Their chronic stress resulted in DNA damage. “This could give us a plausible explanation of how chronic stress may lead to a variety of human conditions and disorders, which range from merely cosmetic, like graying hair, to life-threatening disorders like malignancies,” said senior author Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD. Additional studies are planned to further explore the physical effects of stress on the body. In the meantime, relax a little to save your locks.