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Adrenaline May Damage DNA

Posted by timothy on from the why-I'm-younger-than-my-older-brother dept.

Thelasko writes "Ever wonder why heads of statetend to age twice as fast as the rest of us? New research shows that adrenaline may damage DNA, potentially accelerating aging."

8 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 3, Insightful

    stress causes you to age...

    Go figure!

    1. Re:In other news... by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah it sounds really obvious, until you realize they're figuring out the actual biochemical mechanism behind it. Stress also increases the chance of heart disease and cancer. P53 (or specifically its failure) is also involved in many cancers.

      It looks like useless research on the surface, for the lay person. But when you dig into it you realize that if you can map out the biochemical pathway, you can think about designing drugs to block certain parts of it - resulting in prolonged life or decreases tumor incidence, for example. Stuff like this actually is important.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      To each his own, but I'd rather be bathed by a hundred red-blooded virgins, myself.

    3. Re:In other news... by ohnocitizen · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why is this only useful if they can cure "diseases x,y,z"? Isn't aging the most debilitating disease of all? If it yields any insights into how we age, even those that don't lead directly to cures, there can still be much merit.

  2. Re:Adrenaline by Dyinobal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I thought the president just got messages from the big corporations as to what decision to make.

  3. Re:Adrenaline by optimism · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yeah, but it's gotta be stress-inducing when he gets conflicting directives from different banks.

  4. Endurance Athletes, etc by ItMustBeEsoteric · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If this were true in all cases, people like me would be in trouble. I run 50+ miles per week and the runner's adrenaline high is a part of my daily life. However, it has to be balanced with the benefit of aerobic exercise: http://www.natap.org/2011/HIV/081911_03.htm That said, I'd imagine most heads of states don't put in those kind of miles, and the CNN article (mostly about Obama) is far from scientific. "Looking older" has shit to do with overall health in many cases. However, the study seems to imply chronically elevated adrenaline levels--and athletes have anything but. Catch us before or after a workout, and many of us* are some of the most mellow people you could meet (because the stress relief offered by heavy exercise is a hell of a boon). Personally, I think that's the key that many people who "read" this article will miss: stress keeps adrenaline *chronically* elevated.

  5. Re:Any stress can be damaging by aliquis · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Common sense isn't science thought.

    "Of course the world is flat!"