Researchers found that insomnia significantly accelerates biological aging in adults over 60. Using advanced epigenetic analysis on 63 participants, the study revealed that people with insomnia showed faster aging on two key biological clocks (GrimAGE and SkinBloodClock) and had shorter telomeres, which are protective DNA caps that naturally shorten with age. The insomnia group also displayed widespread changes in DNA methylation patterns affecting cellular maintenance and oxidative stress pathways. This suggests poor sleep quality doesn't just make you feel older—it actually speeds up aging at the cellular level, potentially increasing disease risk and reducing healthspan.
