Scientists from the US National Institutes of Health have identified a link between drinking water and aging. According to them, those who do not drink enough water are at an increased risk of developing chronic diseases and dying at a young age, according to New Atlas..

The new study was based on work by the same group of scientists conducted in 2019.. Then they found that prolonged deprivation of mice of a sufficient amount of moisture leads to a reduction in their life by about half a year, which is equivalent to 15 years of a human life..

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Now the researchers wanted to find out if hydration levels affect people's health and aging.. To do this, they looked at data from an ongoing long-term study of heart health that began in the late 1980s.. They include information on 15,000 participants who were followed for an average of 25 years..

In order to measure hydration levels, the scientists monitored serum sodium levels.. The normal sodium level in this case is between 135 and 146 mmol/L..

Serum sodium levels in the cohort were measured at multiple time periods over 25 years. In addition, scientists tracked 15 health markers that are used to assess biological aging.. They include blood pressure, immune biomarkers, and blood sugar levels..

As a result, scientists have identified a correlation between serum sodium levels above 142 mmol/L and faster biological aging.. For example, participants with serum sodium levels above 142 mmol/L were up to 15% more likely to be biologically older than their chronological age.. This jumped to 50% in individuals with serum sodium levels above 144 mmol/l.

What’s more, participants with sodium levels above 144 mmol/L were 64% more likely to develop chronic disease.. These conditions included heart failure, diabetes, and dementia.. Those with the highest serum sodium levels (144.5–146 mmol/L) were 21% more likely to die prematurely than participants with the lowest sodium levels..

However, it is worth remembering that correlation does not necessarily imply causation.. Scientists note that the study may not mean that reduced levels of hydration necessarily lead to a reduction in life expectancy.. It is likely that hydration levels are a marker of a healthy lifestyle, and those who drink more fluids eat better and exercise more..

But research suggests that low levels of hydration may be a sign of early aging in animals and humans..

Previously, scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Medicine discovered a group of molecules that allow cells to repair damaged components, allowing tissues to maintain the necessary functions.. According to the researchers, the drug they have developed can improve and extend the lives of older people, and also, in the future, can help treat disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's..