Middle-aged men may be aging faster due to 'forever chemicals'
USA TODAY
Scientists may have discovered what is accelerating the biological aging of middle-aged men.
Middle-aged men may be aging faster due to "forever chemicals," according to a new study.
Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of synthetic chemicals often used in non-stick coatings, food packages, cleaning products, plastics and more.
In the study, published Feb. 25 in the journal Frontiers in Aging, researchers found specific forever chemicals, namely perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were present in the blood of 95% of participants. Higher concentrations of PFNA and PFOSA appeared to accelerate biological aging, with middle-aged men between 50 and 64, being the most vulnerable group.
Using public data on a nationally representative group of 326 older women and men enrolled in 1999 and 2000, researchers studied the concentration of 11 PFAS and epigenetic markers in blood samples and reviewed participant questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.
Invented in the 1950s and 1960s, PFNA and PFOSA are commonly used in consumer and industrial products for their water-, grease-, and stain-repellent properties and ability to withstand heat and corrosion, according to a news release.
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