Image: ©iStock/koto_feja(07/02/2025) VA researchers from Boston, Connecticut, and San Diego led an international team that showed PTSD accelerates biological aging. Biological aging, also known as epigenetic aging, measures an individual's genetic cell age, which can be influenced by environmental factors, lifestyle, trauma, or genetics. Epigenetic aging may differ from a person's chronological or birth age, making a person epigenetically older or younger than their birth age. The researchers combined the results from seven studies of more than 1,300 Veterans, Soldiers, and civilians. They found new-onset PTSD added approximately two months to the epigenetic age of an individual after 18 months. People with increased PTSD symptom severity aged almost three additional months after 21 months. This research is the most extensive study to date to suggest PTSD may accelerate biological aging. (Psychological Medicine, May 14, 2025)
