Stress accelerates aging by affecting relevant cellular pathways including, among others, leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and proteasome levels. Their impaired function underlies several age-related and non-communicable conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to investigate, for the first time, the dynamics of stress-related aging factors in the frame of a novel stress-management technique, the Pythagorean Self Awareness Intervention (PSAI), in healthy volunteers and adults with type 2 diabetes. To this end a cohort of 311 healthy volunteers was initially studied and LTL and proteasome levels were analysed in a subgroup of healthy volunteers and adults with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled in the PSAI, with regards to specific physio- and psychometric characteristics of the participants (baseline and post-intervention). We have found a significant improvement of aging biomarkers and of psycho-/bio-factors in all participants. More specifically, post-intervention, both healthy adults and patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrated improved LTL and proteasome levels. Significant improvements were also observed in psychometric, anthropometric and key metabolic features as well as in hair cortisol. In conclusion our results highlighted potential key targets of such interventions and prognostic tools for the assessment of aging pace in clinical practice.

压力通过影响相关的细胞途径加速衰老，其中包括白细胞端粒长度 (LTL) 和蛋白酶体水平。它们的功能受损是一些与年龄相关的非传染性疾病的基础，例如 2 型糖尿病。本研究的目的是首次在健康志愿者和患有类型2糖尿病。为此，最初研究了 311 名健康志愿者的队列，并在参加 PSAI 的健康志愿者和 2 型糖尿病成人亚组中分析了 LTL 和蛋白酶体水平，关于参与者的特定生理和心理特征（基线和干预后）。我们发现所有参与者的衰老生物标志物和心理/生物因素都有显着改善。更具体地说，干预后，健康成人和 2 型糖尿病患者都表现出改善的 LTL 和蛋白酶体水平。在心理测量、人体测量和关键代谢特征以及头发皮质醇方面也观察到了显着改善。总之，我们的结果强调了此类干预措施的潜在关键目标和用于评估临床实践中的衰老速度的预后工具。健康成人和 2 型糖尿病患者的 LTL 和蛋白酶体水平均有所改善。在心理测量、人体测量和关键代谢特征以及头发皮质醇方面也观察到了显着改善。总之，我们的结果强调了此类干预措施的潜在关键目标和用于评估临床实践中的衰老速度的预后工具。健康成人和 2 型糖尿病患者的 LTL 和蛋白酶体水平均有所改善。在心理测量、人体测量和关键代谢特征以及头发皮质醇方面也观察到了显着改善。总之，我们的结果强调了此类干预措施的潜在关键目标和用于评估临床实践中的衰老速度的预后工具。