Feelings of frailty may signal early signs of ageing at 40: Study

IANS May 16, 2025 414 views

Feeling older or lonely at 40 could indicate early signs of frailty, reveals a recent study by Flinders University. The research, published in BMC Public Health, emphasizes the psychological and social cues that precede physical symptoms of frailty. Loneliness emerged as a significant predictor of pre-frailty among participants. Lead author Tom Brennan highlights that promoting positive perceptions about aging is essential for preventing frailty's progression.

"Feeling older than you are, can be a meaningful psychological signal." - Tom Brennan
Feelings of frailty may signal early signs of ageing at 40: Study
New Delhi, May 16: Feeling lonely or older than your age at 40? According to a study, these negative perceptions about ageing could be early signs of frailty, even in your 40s.

Key Points

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Frailty may begin with psychological signs at 40

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Study links loneliness to early frailty

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Positive aging attitudes are vital for future resilience

Usually associated with older age, frailty is a recognised medical condition, marked by reduced strength, energy, and ability to recover from illness.

Pre-frailty is the reversible transition stage that comes before; however, experts say it's ill-defined and requires more understanding.

The research, published in the journal BMC Public Health, showed that it can begin much earlier with subtle psychological and social cues.

"Many people assume frailty is something that happens when we get much older," said lead author Tom Brennan from Flinders University's Caring Futures Institute in Australia.

"But our research shows the psychological and behavioural warning signs can emerge decades earlier, in people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. For example, feeling older than you are, might sound like a throwaway comment, but it turns out it can be a sign that something's not quite right,” he added.

For the study, the researchers analysed data from 321 Australian adults aged 40 and over; 60 per cent of participants were classified as pre-frail, 35 per cent as non-frail, and 5 per cent as frail.

The analysis found that both pre-frail and frail individuals were more likely to report loneliness and negative attitudes toward aging, compared to non-frail participants.

"Loneliness was one of the strongest predictors of pre-frailty in our sample, highlighting that social isolation is a critical factor that can affect overall resilience, even in a relatively healthy and mobile population," Brennan said.

Another key finding was that pre-frail individuals commonly reported feeling older than their chronological age, even when physical health markers were within expected ranges.

"Feeling older than you are, can be a meaningful psychological signal," said Brennan. "We need to emphasise the importance of fostering positive attitudes towards aging as this can have a huge impact on how people adjust to their later stages of life."

Brennan said the study highlights an important intervention point that could help to prevent the progression of frailty later in life.

Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
This is so relatable! In our Indian work culture, we often neglect self-care in our 30s-40s chasing career goals. The stress makes us feel older than we are. Maybe companies should introduce more wellness programs for middle-aged employees. 🧘‍♂️
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Priya M.
Interesting study but I wonder if the findings would be different in India. Our joint family system provides social support that might reduce loneliness compared to Western countries. Still, urban loneliness is becoming a real issue here too.
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Sanjay T.
At 42, I already feel like an uncle! 😅 But seriously, this study makes me think - maybe our traditional practices like yoga and Ayurveda could help prevent this early frailty. Our ancestors knew something about healthy aging that modern science is just rediscovering.
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Ananya R.
The study only looked at Australian adults - we need similar research in India. Our lifestyles, diets and stress factors are very different. Also, does this mean we should stop calling ourselves 'budhau' when we turn 30? Asking for a friend...
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Vikram J.
As someone who just turned 40, this hits close to home. The pressure of caring for aging parents while raising kids and managing work is real. Maybe we need to talk more about middle-age health in India beyond just diabetes and blood pressure checks.
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Neha P.
While the study is important, I feel it's a bit alarmist. Feeling tired at 40 doesn't necessarily mean you're becoming frail! Our bodies change naturally with age. The key is maintaining activity and social connections - something our Indian festivals and community gatherings naturally encourage.

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Tags:
Frailty Psychological Signs Aging Study Loneliness Tom Brennan