Stress-Induced Pathology and Accelerated Aging

AbstractA study involving 317 former combatants aged 24 to 69 years was carried out. The goal of the study was to identify patterns of the age dynamics of stress-induced pathology in combatants to develop a concept of their accelerated aging as a final component of the consequences of combat stress. It turned out that, with respect to the period of impact of combat stress factors and the age, the first manifestations concerned the pathology of the musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal tract, and arterial hypertension, followed by cardiovascular diseases associated with atherosclerosis. Posttraumatic stress disorder was formed in 289 (91.2%) cases and chronic pain syndromes of various localizations and origins in 192 (60.6%) cases at various times of the postwar period. However, it is posttraumatic stress disorder in combination with chronic pain that was decisive in the overall severity of the state of combatants, changes in free radical oxidation indicators, and an increase in biological age. It is proposed that accelerated aging, which occurs due to the consequences of severe stress effects, be considered an independent disease.
Source: Advances in Gerontology - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research