Toxic People Makes Us Age Faster
Psychology Today
by Sebastian Ocklenburg, Ph.D.February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Toxic relationships can significantly impact our physical health, contributing to faster aging and increased inflammation. A recent study published in *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* explored how negative social ties, such as those caused by toxic friends or family members, affect biological aging. Using DNA methylation-based aging clocks, researchers analyzed data from over 2300 volunteers and found that exposure to toxic individuals accelerated biological aging by nearly 9 months on average. Each toxic relationship added approximately 1.5% to the aging process, with women and those feeling
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/22/2026