Could the stress and social isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated biological ageing in teenagers? A new study suggests that pandemic-related stress may have left measurable changes in the bodies of adolescents, particularly at the epigenetic level.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany, along with scientists from four German universities, investigated the effects of pandemic-related stress on biological ageing. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), used epigenetic clocks to examine changes in DNA methylation, a chemical process that regulates gene activity.
COVID-19 Stress and Epigenetic Ageing
The researchers analysed data from more than 1,000 participants in Germany, including children aged 8–10 years, adolescents aged 14–16 years and young adults aged 20–29 years.
The team collected saliva DNA samples before the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 and again after the second lockdown, between winter 2021 and spring 2022. They then examined how perceived pandemic stress, social restrictions, regional infection rates and lockdown measures influenced epigenetic ageing.
The findings revealed that the pandemic accelerated the pace of epigenetic ageing across all age groups. However, the effects were particularly pronounced among participants who had poorer health outcomes before the pandemic.
Interestingly, perceived stress had a stronger association with epigenetic ageing among adolescents than among children and adults. Restrictions on social interactions, especially the inability to meet friends, emerged as an important factor affecting teenagers’ mental well-being and biological ageing.
Lead author Alicia Schowe suggested that adolescence may be particularly sensitive to stress because of the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as the impact of restrictions on peer interactions.
Vulnerable Groups More Affected
Further analysis showed that participants who already faced challenges before the pandemic experienced greater stress-related effects. These included individuals with poorer physical health, lower subjective well-being and disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
Researchers also observed that objective factors, such as regional COVID-19 infection rates and lockdown restrictions, did not necessarily predict how much stress participants personally experienced.
Among children and adults, changes in epigenetic ageing may have been influenced by other pandemic-related factors, including reduced physical activity and more sedentary lifestyles.
Long-Term Health Effects Need Further Study
The study highlights how major societal crises can leave measurable biological effects, with adolescents and already vulnerable populations potentially experiencing greater impacts.
However, researchers emphasised that further long-term studies are needed to determine whether these epigenetic changes increase the risk of developing health conditions later in life. As reported by medicalxpress.com, the findings highlight the importance of addressing stress and supporting mental well-being, particularly among adolescents during major public health crises.
The research also offers insights into how environmental and social experiences can influence biological ageing and potentially shape long-term health outcomes.