Do you feel like you’ve aged faster than you imagined?
A new study published in the journal Nature Aging has revealed that the aging process in humans occurs in a “non-linear increment” and not in stages.
After extensive research, a team of Stanford scientists certain that age-related changes, including a slower metabolism, wrinkling of the skin and an increased susceptibility to disease, are predominantly seen in people aged 44 to 60.
Dr. Michael Snyder, professor of genetics at Stanford University and senior author of the study saying“People assume that everyone ages gradually. It turns out that most changes are not linear.”
A new study published in the journal Nature Aging has revealed that the aging process in humans occurs in a “non-linear increment” and not in stages, especially between the ages of 44 and 60.
The team analyzed data from repeated collections of blood and stool samples and oral, skin and nasal swabs from 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75 across California over a median period of 1.7 years.
During the analysis, the scientists observed that 81 percent of the observed molecules, including proteins and RNA, changed by at least one wave.
The team ultimately concluded that significant deregulation occurred in two main periods, with age 44 causing the largest change.
Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Ageing in Germany, told the The Wall Street Journal‘These studies probably fit very well with the experiences we have ourselves or have heard from others who perceive a sudden decline in physiological fitness.’
In 40-year-olds, significant changes were observed in the amount of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism; cardiovascular diseases; and skin and muscles.
In those aged 60 years, changes were related to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscles.
“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,” said Dr. Xiaotao Shen, a former Stanford Medicine postdoctoral researcher and now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
In 40-year-olds, significant changes were observed in the amount of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism; cardiovascular disease; and skin and muscles.
In those aged 60 years, changes were related to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and skin and muscles.
It’s possible that some of these changes may be related to lifestyle or behavioral factors that are concentrated in these age groups, Dr. Snyder said.
The findings suggest that people should pay attention to their health between the ages of 40 and 60.
For example, a dysfunction in alcohol metabolism could result from an increase in alcohol consumption in the mid-40s, an often stressful period of life.
The team plans to explore the drivers of these clusters of changes.
But the findings suggest that people should pay attention to their health between ages 40 and 60, the researchers said.
This could involve increasing exercise to protect the heart and maintain muscle mass, or decreasing alcohol consumption.
“I strongly believe that we should try to adjust our lifestyle while we are still healthy,” Dr. Snyder said.