- A new study suggests that certain “forever chemicals” may quietly accelerate biological aging at the cellular level.
- Researchers found that higher levels of specific PFAS were linked to several years of accelerated aging, especially among middle-aged men.
- The findings raise new concerns about long-term health risks, given the widespread PFAS exposure in the United States.
“Forever chemicals” are linked to accelerated aging at the cellular level, particularly among middle-aged men, a new study suggests.
The findings add to growing concerns about widespread exposure to PFAS chemicals.
PFAS are used in products such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, and some firefighting foams. This is because they repel water, oil, and heat, making materials more durable and resistant to damage. The nickname reflects the fact that these chemicals break down very slowly and can linger for years in the environment and in human bodies.
Epigenetic aging estimates biological age at a cellular level based on chemical markers found on DNA. Researchers also found that specific PFAS compounds affected individuals differently. While the association was present across the broader study population, it was most pronounced among middle-aged men.
“While the study does not prove causation, it suggests that PFAS exposure may be linked to molecular changes related to aging and long-term health risk,” Xiangwei Li, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and senior author of the research, told Healthline.
While most research on forever chemicals has focused on two compounds, PFOS and PFOA, those chemicals are now considered “legacy” PFAS because they were largely phased out in the United States in the early 2000s.
Researchers are now shifting their focus to other PFAS compounds that, like legacy chemicals, are also persistent in the environment and potentially toxic, but less well studied. This study examined two additional PFAS compounds: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA).
The findings track with prior research in this area, said Andres Cardenas, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford University. Cardenas wasn’t involved in the research.
“Our group looked at exactly this data and question before in 2025. Similarly, we found strong evidence that PFNA accelerated multiple epigenetic clocks in males,” he said.
Blood samples were tested for several PFAS chemicals, including PFNA and PFSA, which were detected in more than 95% of participants.
The team then examined epigenetic “clocks,” tools that estimate biological age based on chemical markers attached to DNA. Specifically, they measure DNA methylation patterns, which signal how fast the body is aging at a molecular level.
“Unlike chronological age, epigenetic age keeps track of the molecular ’wear and tear’ of genomic control,” Cardenas said.
Different epigenetic clocks have been developed over time to capture distinct biological processes linked to aging, such as inflammation and mortality risk.
The GrimAge clock, for example, is designed to predict risk of death and age-related disease, incorporating signals tied to inflammation and cardiovascular risk. LinAge, on the other hand, is linked more closely to life span prediction and fat metabolism.
Using these clocks, the researchers calculated whether a person’s biological age appeared older or younger than their actual years and tested whether higher PFAS levels were associated with faster biological aging.
The researchers found that higher levels of PFNA were associated with 2 to 4 years of accelerated aging, as measured by GrimAge. This association was strongest in adults ages 50 to 64 and in men.
PFSA showed a distinct association with LinAge-accelerated aging, suggesting that different PFAS chemicals may influence aging via distinct biological pathways.
The study does not explain why this association is strongest in middle-aged men, but Li has some hypotheses.
“Midlife is often a period when cardiometabolic function, inflammation, and stress-response systems begin to change more rapidly,” he said. “Together, these factors may make aging-related molecular pathways more responsive — or more vulnerable — to environmental stressors in midlife.”
Men may be more susceptible to the deleterious effects of PFAS than women due to biological differences such as hormones, body composition, and metabolism.
While the study cannot prove these chemicals cause faster aging, it suggests that certain PFAS may be linked to measurable changes in the body’s biological aging process, particularly during midlife.
Nearly all Americans have some level of PFAS in their blood. However, the levels of some specific chemicals, such as the legacy chemicals PFOS and PFOA, have declined significantly over time.
Since 2000, blood PFOS levels have declined by more than 85% and PFOA levels by more than 70%.
“Complete avoidance of PFAS is unrealistic, but exposure can be reduced,” said Li.
Since drinking water can be a source of forever chemicals, using certain water filters can help reduce exposure. Reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon filters can help, but effectiveness will vary.
“Drinking water and diet are likely major exposure routes for the majority of the population. Checking your water quality report from the municipal source or city is helpful in making decisions about potential filters to use if you live in an area affected by PFAS contamination,” said Cardenas.
- Swap out nonstick cookware (especially old scratched pans) for steel or glass.
- Eat less takeout and fast food (PFAS are commonly found in wrappers and containers)
- Avoid waterproof and stain-resistant clothing, furniture, and upholstery.
“In general, choosing greener consumer products and PFAS-free products, such as cookware or consumer products, is a good step,” Cardenas said.
