‘Forever Chemicals’ May Speed Up Aging in Men, Reveals New Study
Groundbreaking research suggests that two prevalent ‘forever chemicals’ found in the blood of most Americans could be hastening biological aging in middle-aged men. The study was published on February 26, 2026, in the journal Frontiers in Aging.
The research, spearheaded by Dr. Xiangwei Li from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, scrutinized data from 326 older adults. The study found that two specific PFAS compounds—perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA)—were present in a staggering 95% of participants’ blood samples. Notably, higher concentrations of these chemicals were strongly associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in men aged 50-64. The same correlation, however, was not observed in women.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals commonly found in nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, food packaging, and cosmetics. These substances, dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ due to their longevity, are present in an estimated 98% of Americans’ blood, as per the National Academies of Sciences.
Dr. Li warns, “These findings suggest that some newer PFAS alternatives are not necessarily low-risk replacements and warrant serious attention.” The study utilized epigenetic ‘clocks’—DNA methylation patterns that measure biological rather than chronological age—to detect signs of accelerated aging. In response to such findings, France has recently banned PFAS in clothing and cosmetics, and the EU is contemplating similar restrictions.
Source: Science Daily