By Dailymail.com Reporter
Published: 22:28 BST, 14 May 2019 | Updated: 22:28 BST, 14 May 2019
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A doctor's first year in residency is so intense that their DNA ages six times faster than usual, according to a new study.
Researchers took DNA samples from 250 medical students who graduated from the University of Michigan, first before starting their intern year, then again 12 months later, along with a questionnaire.
They were looking for a tell-tale sign of ageing: if the length of their telomeres - the caps on the end of chromosomes, which keep cells intact - had shrunk.
As we age, our telomeres shrink and break down, leading to weariness.
The new study found dramatic and rapid shortening of telomeres in all new residents. The longer the hours, the bigger the shrink.
Meanwhile students in their first undergraduate year at the same school saw no changes to their DNA, despite having to adapt to a new environment and workload.
Researchers took DNA samples from 250 medical students who graduated from the University of Michigan, first before starting their intern year, then 12 months later, and found a huge shift
The findings hammer home the intensity of a doctor's first year out of school - and suggest