Researchers identify gene variant associated with cellular aging

It is well known that psychiatric stress is associated with accelerated aging. Now, a new study shows that a gene mutation interacts with multiple types of psychiatric stress including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain and sleep disturbances in association with cellular aging. The klotho gene, which is named for the Greek Goddess Clotho who "spins the thread of life," has been connected with longevity and a variety of age-related conditions and diseases. This is the first time it has been shown to be a marker for accelerated cellular aging in humans. The study involved 309 U.S. military veterans, of which a large percentage experienced PTSD, who had been deployed to the wars in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. All participants gave blood samples for genetic and metabolic analyses and were evaluated for psychiatric conditions. They also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine brain structure and function.