People who are impatient are not only in the state of stress but also at risk of aging faster, according to a recent study. Huffington Post reports that researchers from the University of Singapore assessed 1,158 undergraduate students. They determined if there was a connection between patience and telomere length.
Telomerase Activation Sciences describes telomeres as the caps located at the end of each strand of DNA that protect the chromosomes. They resemble the plastic tips at the end of the shoelaces. If the telomeres become shorter, the cells aged -- telomeres serve as the aging clock in each cell.
The researchers asked some hypothetical questions to the students. They were asked if they would receive the $100 right away or wait for a month to receive $101. If they waited further, they will get up to $128.
The scholars evaluated the level of impatience of students. Those who took the $100 were less patient and those who waited for a small reward were patient.
They also took blood samples of the students. The results show that those who were hasty have shorter telomeres than those who were patient.
"Impatience is linked to cognitive and social incompetence, inability to cope with life frustration and risk of mental disorders," Xinh Zhang, the co-author of the study, said.
"These untoward effects associated with impatience lead us to contend that impatience can lead to the shorter telomere. It seems unlikely that a group of healthy individuals in their early 20s are able to 'sense' their telomere length is reduced and then make the more impulsive choice," he further added.
Meanwhile, some studies show that impatience may also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. What to do: stay calm whenever there are pressures and difficulties. You never want to age faster. Patience is the key to being young externally as well as young in heart.
