Experiencing adversity linked to greater frailty in middle-aged and older adults
Published in BMC Medicine, the study analyzed data from over 150,000 participants and found that individuals who experienced adversity in both childhood and adulthood showed the highest levels of frailty, along with signs of accelerated biological ageing compared to their chronological age. Frailty, a syndrome characterized by reduced physical resilience and increased vulnerability to health risks, is an emerging global public health concern. The researchers examined links between life course adversity and key indicators of biological ageing, including telomere length, metabolomic ageing, frailty, and grip strength.
Data from 153,557 participants in the UK Biobank showed that 27% experienced adversity in both childhood and adulthood, while 41% reported at least one adverse event in childhood and 53% in adulthood. Overall, adversity at any stage of life was linked to higher frailty, with the strongest effects seen in those exposed across both periods who also exhibited accelerated biological ageing and weaker grip strength.
Julian Mutz noted that frailty is not just a result of ageing but reflects the accumulation of health deficits and reduced physiological resilience. Monica Aas added that despite these findings, interventions such as light exercise, proper nutrition, and strong social connections can help prevent and manage frailty. The researchers plan to further explore factors that may reduce the impact of adversity on biological ageing and support healthy ageing in affected individuals. The study was conducted using data from the UK Biobank, with funding from the Medical Research Council and the King’s Prize Fellowship.
