DOES ANXIETY ACCELERATE AGING?

ANXIETY OVER FEARS MAY
SPEED UP AGING IN WOMEN

http://psychcentral.com - Phobic anxiety or fear-related anxiety attacks are relatively common among middle-aged women. A new study suggests the condition may be associated with premature aging. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) discovered the condition is associated with shorter telomeres in middle-aged and older women - a biochemical status that implies cellular aging. Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes at the ends of chromosomes. They protect chromosomes from deteriorating and guard the genetic information at the ends of chromosomes during cell division. 
Scientists believe telomeres are markers of biological or cellular aging as shortened telomeres have been linked to increased risk of cancers, heart disease, dementia and mortality. In the large, cross-sectional study, researchers obtained blood samples from 5,243 women, age 42 to 69 years, who were participants in the Nurses’ Health Study.

Telomere length was then analyzed as well as the participants’ concurrent self-reports regarding phobic symptoms determined by assessment with a validated questionnaire. Investigators determined having a high phobic anxiety level was associated with significantly shorter telomere lengths. Moreover, telomere lengths for women who were highly phobic were similar to what was seen in women six years older. 
The findings pave the way for further prospective investigations relating anxiety to telomere length change. "Many people wonder about whether - and how - stress can make us age faster," study author Dr. Olivia Okereke, a psychiatrist at BWH, said in a press release. "So, this study is notable for showing a connection between a common form of psychological stress - phobic anxiety - and a plausible mechanism for premature aging."
The study is published online in the journal PLoS ONE.

You may have heard that worrying can give you wrinkles, but a new study shows anxiety may actually accelerate aging in people on a molecular level. Researchers suggest that high levels of anxiety might really make you age faster. If we are fortunate enough to develop the feeling for loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, inmediately the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness extinguishes, and being old is no longer a problem.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

If you want to become free from lamentation, fear and illusion, just take shelter of devotional service. Instead of serving dogs, horses, other animals, human beings  and demigods - serve the lotus feet of Krsna. The Lord is ready to reciprocate with us. In the Bhagavad-gita (4.11), He has said, "As one surrenders unto Me, I reward him accordingly." If we desire to serve Him in any of the five rasas, the Lord displays His mercy accordingly. For those who are indifferent to the Lord's service, the observance of Ekadasi is useless. They simply increase their bile - they do not please Lord Hari. To attain Lord Hari, one must discuss topics in relation to Him. The conditioned souls have become narrow-minded in this material world. They have been captured by the network of lust, hunger, and other enemies. If you want to  be delivered from material existence, you will have to take shelter of the Supreme Lord.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thākura Prabhupāda :
"Srimad Bhagavat Tatparya" - Lecture Nineteen
(The Purport of Srimad Bhagavatam)
http://spiritualsbooks.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/srimad-bhagavat-tatparya-purport-of.html

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/