Could a More Regular Day Help Slow Biological Ageing?

A new study in JAMA Network Open suggests that the rhythm of daily life may be linked to how the body ages. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed wrist actigraphy and blood-based biological ageing markers in 207 middle-aged and older adults. They found that people with stronger, more stable and less fragmented 24-hour rest-activity rhythms showed signs of slower epigenetic ageing.

The findings do not prove that routine directly slows ageing, but they point to daily rhythm as a promising marker of healthy ageing. The study shifts attention beyond sleep duration alone, suggesting that consistent patterns of rest, movement and activity throughout the day may matter for long-term health.

For ageing societies, the research raises a practical question: should healthy ageing advice focus not only on exercise and sleep, but also on the structure of everyday life?