Scientists find ‘aging waves’ at 44 and 60 as they blow apart idea we gradually grow older
Do you feel like you’ve aged faster than you thought?
New research published in the journal Nature Aging finds that the aging process occurs in a “non-linear progression” likened to rolling “waves,” as opposed to a slow and steady increase.
After extensive research, a team of Stanford scientists certain that age-related changes, such as slower metabolism, wrinkle formation and increased susceptibility to disease, show significant peaks at ages 44 and 60.
Dr. Michael Snyder, professor of genetics at Stanford University and lead author of the study said: ‘People assume that everyone ages gradually. It turns out that most changes are not linear.’
New research published in the journal Nature Aging finds that the aging process in humans occurs in a “non-linear progression” rather than in stages – particularly between ages 44 and 60.
The team analyzed data from repeated collections of blood and stool samples and mouth, skin and nose swabs from 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75 in California, over a median period of 1.7 years.
During the analysis, the scientists noted that 81 percent of the observed molecules, including proteins and RNA, changed in at least one wave.
The team ultimately concluded that there was significant disruption at two key points, with the largest shift occurring at age 44.
Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany, told the Wall Street Journal: ‘These studies probably correspond well with the experiences we have had ourselves, or have heard from others who observe a sudden decline in physiological fitness.’
In people in their forties, significant changes were observed in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine, and lipid metabolism; cardiovascular disease; and skin and muscle diseases.
In people in their 60s, changes were related to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscle.
“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,” said Dr. Xiaotao Shen, a former postdoctoral researcher at Stanford Medicine and now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University Singapore.
In people in their forties, significant changes were observed in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism, cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscle.
In people in their 60s, changes were related to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscle.
According to Dr. Snyder, it’s possible that some of these changes are related to lifestyle or behavioral factors that occur in these age groups.
The findings suggest that people in their 40s and 60s need to pay attention to their health
For example, impaired alcohol metabolism can result from increased alcohol consumption in people in their mid-40s, a period that is often stressful.
The team wants to investigate the causes of these change clusters.
But the findings suggest that people in their 40s and 60s need to pay attention to their health, the researchers said.
For example, this could mean exercising more to protect your heart and maintain your muscle mass, or reducing your alcohol consumption.
“I’m a big believer in making lifestyle changes while we’re still healthy,” Dr. Snyder said.