ACCELERATED BIOLOGICAL AGING: ENVIRONMENTAL, LIFESTYLE, AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF EPIGENETIC AGE ACCELERATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: A gap between biological and chronological age known as "accelerated aging" has become a quantifiable phenomenon associated with modifiable features of modern urban and industrial environments. Two or more of the following factors linked to premature biological aging, independent of chronological age: environmental pollution and poor air quality, a sedentary lifestyle, circadian rhythm and sleep disorders, chronic psychosocial stressors, ultra-processed diet, and social or digital isolation. Objective: To comprehensively explore the modifiable features of modern society that have been implicated in accelerated biological aging as measured by validated biomarkers (epigenetic clock, telomere length, allostatic load) and to discuss the implications for public health. Methods: A structured narrative systematic literature review conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. All sources identified using iterative keywords. Searches in peer-reviewed databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Frontiers, Nature journals and PMC/PubMed Central). Studies reporting associations between validated biological-aging biomarkers and modifiable environmental, behavioural, or psychosocial exposures prioritized for inclusion. Results: The literature search identified six major domains of contemporary life consistently associated with accelerated biological aging, ambient and traffic-related air pollution, sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity, sleep deprivation and circadian disruption, chronic psychosocial stress and allostatic load, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and social isolation and loneliness or problematic digital media use. These exposures share common underlying biological mechanisms such as chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulated DNA methylation patterns, which correspond to known hallmarks of aging. Emerging intervention studies (including dietary, exercise and multi-domain lifestyle programs) suggest that epigenetic age acceleration is at least partially reversible. Conclusion: Accelerated biological aging driven by modifiable aspects of contemporary society represents a novel and unrecognized public health challenge that extends beyond individual disease categories. Population level interventions aim to improving air quality, the built environment, food system and social connectivity could substantially reduce the overall age-related disease burden throughout life.