Whether you turn 60, 70 or 80, everyone starts to feel ‘old’ at very different times.
But according to a new study, our brains experience three different “aging peaks” throughout our lives.
Experts have found that levels of 13 proteins linked to brain aging peak at 57, 70 and 78.
And this could mean that these specific ages are crucial for interventions to keep the brain healthy for longer, they said.
The team analyzed the concentration of around 3,000 proteins in the blood plasma of almost 5,000 Britons aged between 45 and 82 years old.
Analysis found that 13 proteins strongly linked to brain aging formed three age-related peaks at 57, 70 and 78 years old.
One protein in particular, called Brevican (BCAN), has been linked to the onset of dementia, strokes and movement problems.
Another protein, called GDF15, has also been linked to age-related diseases.
Experts have found that levels of 13 proteins linked to brain aging peak at ages 57, 70 and 78.
Experts warned that by 2050 there will be an estimated more than 1.5 billion people aged 65 and over worldwide – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the aging process. Stock image
The authors said the peaks in these 13 proteins may reflect changes in human brain health at these specific ages.
And these could be important times to consider interventions in the brain’s aging process, they said, which could help slow the onset of diseases such as dementia.
The research was led by a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China.
Writing in the journal Nature Aging, they warned that by 2050 the number of people aged 65 and over worldwide is estimated to exceed 1.5 billion – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the aging process.
“We found that the end of the fifth decade is a possible time point for brain aging,” they said.
‘Additionally, our study suggested that the seventh and late seventh decades are also essential time points for brain aging.
‘These findings contribute to bridging essential knowledge gaps in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of brain aging, with substantial implications for the future development of… biomarkers for brain aging, as well as personalized therapeutic targets for subsequent age-related brain disorders.’