/Health news/Suddenly feeling older? Scientists discover ‘waves’ of aging at ages 44 and 60

Suddenly feeling older? Scientists discover ‘waves’ of aging at ages 44 and 60

The aging process does not occur in a slow and steady straight line. Instead, there are intense phases, with significant “waves” of aging recorded at ages 44 and 60, affecting both men and women.

Does it feel like you’ve aged overnight?

A new study published in Nature Aging reveals that the aging process occurs in distinct ‘waves’ rather than gradually increasing in a slow and consistent manner. After thorough research, a group of scientists at Stanford University identified that age-related changes, such as a slowdown in metabolism, wrinkling of the skin, and increased susceptibility to illness, show significant peaks at the ages of 44 and 60. These changes may lead to weight gain or a stronger reaction to alcohol consumption.

Dr. Michael Snyder, a professor of genetics at Stanford University and the lead author of the study, stated: “People often think that aging happens gradually, but in reality, most changes don’t follow a straight line.”

Characteristics of the ‘waves’ of aging at ages 44 and 60

The research team analyzed data from blood and stool samples collected multiple times, along with oral, skin, and nasal swabs from 108 healthy individuals aged 25 to 75 across California over an average period of 1.7 years.

During the analysis, scientists noticed that 81% of the molecules observed, including proteins and RNA, changed at least once in a wave-like pattern. The team ultimately concluded that significant disruptions occurred in two key stages – with age 44 showing the greatest shift, and age 60 creating another notable jump.

Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany, told The Wall Street Journal: “These findings likely align with our own experiences or stories we’ve heard about a sudden decline in physical abilities.”

At age 40, significant changes were observed in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine, and lipid metabolism, as well as indicators for cardiovascular disease, aging skin, and muscles.

At age 60, changes were related to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, as well as skin and muscle health.

“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,” said Dr. Xiaotao Shen, a former postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Medicine, now an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Initially, researchers concluded that the aging wave in the 40s could be due to perimenopause or menopause in women. However, they also observed the same aging pattern in men. They hypothesized that disruptions in alcohol metabolism might be due to increased alcohol consumption in the 40s, a stage in life often filled with stress.

For the changes at age 60, researchers suggested that these findings might explain why humans become more susceptible to severe illness from the flu as they age. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among Americans aged 65 and older, nearly 90% have at least one chronic condition, and nearly two-thirds endure two or more chronic conditions.

The research team intends to continue investigating the causes of these clusters of changes. However, their findings suggest that individuals should pay close attention to their health in their 40s and 60s. This could include increasing exercise to protect the heart and maintain muscle mass or reducing alcohol consumption.

“I firmly believe that we should strive to adjust our lifestyle while we’re still healthy,” Dr. Snyder said.

Source: Dailymail
Author: Ishita Srivastava
Published: 05:35 BST, September 4, 2024
Updated: 06:56 BST, September 4, 2024
Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13810507/ageing-waves-study-age-diseases-health-44-60.html

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