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Does the military age your body? Understanding the real-world impact on veterans

Research using cellular-level aging markers, like telomere length, shows that prior military service is associated with markers of accelerated aging. The question of, "Does the military age your body?" is complex, involving both physical and psychological stressors that can contribute to premature aging in veterans, with factors like combat exposure, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and PTSD significantly increasing this risk.