A recent study says that aging may not be a steady process; instead, it involves two milestone jumps that can occur in our 40s and 60s.
The study, published in the journal Nature Aging, points to a nonlinear change in our bodies as we age. While time may be constant, more than 80% of our molecules and microorganisms can see dramatic dips and rises around age 40 and 60.
Thousands of molecules and microbiomes in people ages 25 to 75 were assessed as part of the research. Most were found not to change consistently and chronologically. Instead, the authors discovered two distinct periods in our lives where changes occur rapidly.
“We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes… It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at,” said the study’s senior author and professor of genetics, Michael Snyder, PhD, per Standford Medicine News Center.
The findings may lend credence to some people’s feelings of experiencing immediate aging, like waking up one day and feeling noticeably older.
At first, the authors of the study assumed changes that would occur in the mid-40s would be driven by menopausal or perimenopausal changes in women. However, when the results were separated by sex, men were found to similarly experience these dramatic shifts.
“This suggests that while menopause or perimenopause may contribute to the changes observed in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other, more significant factors influencing these changes in both men and women. Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,” said study author Xiaotao Shen, PhD, a former Stanford Medicine postdoctoral scholar.
The researchers were less surprised by the rapid transitions in the early 60s since this is an age associated with the onset of many age-related diseases, said Snyder.
The study noted that people in their 40s experienced significant changes in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine, and lipid metabolism. Large shifts were also identified in molecules related to cardiovascular disease and skin and muscle in this demographic.
For those in their 60s, changes were noted with respect to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscle.
The authors admit lifestyle changes may be the actual culprit, not age. For example, people might have a tendency to increase alcohol intake in their 40s during a period of higher stress from work and raising young children.
Of course, there are ways we can help slow the aging process and potentially extend our lives. Exercise, in particular, has been shown to effectively extend lifespan.
Breakthroughs in science also show promise in reversing Father Time’s relentless march. Last year, The Dallas Express reported on a monumental breakthrough showing a particular combination of drugs with the potential to restore youthful states.
