We’ve all heard of people “aging overnight” after a traumatic event. Scientists actually have a term for this phenomenon: Marie Antoinette Syndrome, named for the French queen. When she was captured after fleeing Paris and sentenced to death by guillotine, observers claimed her hair turned white from shock.
While accounts of the queen’s hair may be simply legend, scientists have long suspected that chronic psychological stress—triggered by events like war, abuse, or imprisonment—may accelerate aging, leading to early onset of age-related disease or even premature death.
Now, two new studies report significant links between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans and accelerated aging. Many vets with PTSD are aging too fast, at a surprisingly young age.
