Two Critical Phases of Ageing And What We Can Do About It
A new study suggests that age-related changes occur at two specific stages of life
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If you notice that you suddenly have more wrinkles, your joints ache, or the feeling that you have aged overnight, this could be scientifically justified. The latest research suggests that aging is not a continuous, uniform process, but takes place in two decisive, accelerated phases.
Suddenly older? Science has an explanation
A study published in Nature Aging, which looked at 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75, found that the ageing process does not appear to be uniform, but rather accelerates at certain stages of life. Over an average period of 1.7 years, participants provided biological samples, including blood and stool samples, every three to six months. In the collected data - more than 135,000 molecules and microbes - two age phases stand out in particular: around 44 and around 60 years. These dates mark veritable “aging peaks” and show that there is a phase between the ages of 40 and 50 in which you should pay particular attention to your health.
Two critical life phases: mid-40s and early 60s
“We don't change gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes,” explains Professor Michael Snyder, geneticist and director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University, the lead author of the study. He emphasizes that significant changes take place in the body in both the 40s and 60s — regardless of which molecules were considered.
Among the 108 participants, who regularly took samples over a period of up to seven years, the researchers analyzed molecules such as RNA, proteins and metabolites as well as microbes such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in the intestines and on the skin. This showed that most molecules and microbes did not simply change evenly, but that there were significant shifts especially around midlife, i.e. between the beginning and mid-40s, and then again in the early 60s.
More than just menopause: Why men are also affected
It was originally assumed that the first surge of aging around midlife could be due to perimenopausal changes in women, but the data showed similar aging patterns among men as well. “This suggests that although menopause plays a role, there are likely other, more important factors that trigger these changes in both sexes,” says Dr. Xiaotao Shen, co-author of the study.
Which molecules change and why it is important
The first wave of changes involved molecules associated with the cardiovascular system and the ability to metabolize caffeine, alcohol, and fats. In the second wave, changes occurred in molecules that influence immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function. Interestingly, molecules changed in both phases, which with the skin and muscle aging are related.
This pattern is consistent with what is already known about age-related diseases: Many of them, such as cardiovascular diseases or Alzheimer's disease, gain weight around the age of 60. However, some of these developments could also be linked to lifestyle or behavioral factors. For example, the change in alcohol metabolism could be due to increased alcohol consumption in the middle years of life, a period that is often characterized by stress.
Adjust your lifestyle: The chance for healthy ageing
The results of the study suggest that it is important to adjust your lifestyle, especially in times of accelerated aging. “I am firmly convinced that we should proactively change our lifestyle while we are still healthy,” says Snyder. In particular, regular physical activity can be rapid during phases of rapid muscle loss be of crucial importance. It's about taking targeted measures to stay healthy longer — before aging takes over us.
The study underlines how important it is to address your own lifestyle at an early stage. It shows that aging is not linear and that targeted measures such as more exercise and a healthy diet can be decisive, especially in midlife, to cushion age-related changes.
References
Shen, X, Wang, C., Zhou, X. et al. Nonlinear dynamics of multi-omics profiles during human aging. Nat Aging (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00692-2
Publiziert
15.10.2024
Kategorie
Science
Experte
Scientific Terms
Aging
The biological definition of aging may include all changes in the body associated with aging, including growth, development, and maturation. Some biologists reserve the term senescence (see below) for changes associated with loss of function and degradation later in life, but in modern parlance aging is synonymous with senescence. Demographers have their own definition: aging is the increase in the probability of death associated with changes in the body. This allows for the possibility of negative senescence (see above) or declining aging, in which the probability of death decreases with increasing age.
Microbiome
Greek micrós mikrós “small”, Greek βoos bios “life”
All microorganisms and their collective genetic material found in or on the human body or in any other environment.
Protein
A chain of amino acids folded into a three-dimensional structure. Each protein is specialized to perform a specific task so that cells can grow, divide, and function. Proteins are one of the four macromolecules that make up all living things (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids).
RNA
Abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. Transcribed from a DNA template and is usually used to control the synthesis of proteins. CRISPR-associated proteins use RNAs as a guide to find suitable target sequences in DNA.
If you notice that you suddenly have more wrinkles, your joints ache, or the feeling that you have aged overnight, this could be scientifically justified. The latest research suggests that aging is not a continuous, uniform process, but takes place in two decisive, accelerated phases.
Suddenly older? Science has an explanation
A study published in Nature Aging, which looked at 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75, found that the ageing process does not appear to be uniform, but rather accelerates at certain stages of life. Over an average period of 1.7 years, participants provided biological samples, including blood and stool samples, every three to six months. In the collected data - more than 135,000 molecules and microbes - two age phases stand out in particular: around 44 and around 60 years. These dates mark veritable “aging peaks” and show that there is a phase between the ages of 40 and 50 in which you should pay particular attention to your health.
Two critical life phases: mid-40s and early 60s
“We don't change gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes,” explains Professor Michael Snyder, geneticist and director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University, the lead author of the study. He emphasizes that significant changes take place in the body in both the 40s and 60s — regardless of which molecules were considered.
Among the 108 participants, who regularly took samples over a period of up to seven years, the researchers analyzed molecules such as RNA, proteins and metabolites as well as microbes such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in the intestines and on the skin. This showed that most molecules and microbes did not simply change evenly, but that there were significant shifts especially around midlife, i.e. between the beginning and mid-40s, and then again in the early 60s.
More than just menopause: Why men are also affected
It was originally assumed that the first surge of aging around midlife could be due to perimenopausal changes in women, but the data showed similar aging patterns among men as well. “This suggests that although menopause plays a role, there are likely other, more important factors that trigger these changes in both sexes,” says Dr. Xiaotao Shen, co-author of the study.
Which molecules change and why it is important
The first wave of changes involved molecules associated with the cardiovascular system and the ability to metabolize caffeine, alcohol, and fats. In the second wave, changes occurred in molecules that influence immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function. Interestingly, molecules changed in both phases, which with the skin and muscle aging are related.
This pattern is consistent with what is already known about age-related diseases: Many of them, such as cardiovascular diseases or Alzheimer's disease, gain weight around the age of 60. However, some of these developments could also be linked to lifestyle or behavioral factors. For example, the change in alcohol metabolism could be due to increased alcohol consumption in the middle years of life, a period that is often characterized by stress.
Adjust your lifestyle: The chance for healthy ageing
The results of the study suggest that it is important to adjust your lifestyle, especially in times of accelerated aging. “I am firmly convinced that we should proactively change our lifestyle while we are still healthy,” says Snyder. In particular, regular physical activity can be rapid during phases of rapid muscle loss be of crucial importance. It's about taking targeted measures to stay healthy longer — before aging takes over us.
The study underlines how important it is to address your own lifestyle at an early stage. It shows that aging is not linear and that targeted measures such as more exercise and a healthy diet can be decisive, especially in midlife, to cushion age-related changes.
Experte
Referenzen
Shen, X, Wang, C., Zhou, X. et al. Nonlinear dynamics of multi-omics profiles during human aging. Nat Aging (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00692-2
Publiziert
15.10.2024
Kategorie
Science
Wissenschaftliche Begriffe
Aging
The biological definition of aging may include all changes in the body associated with aging, including growth, development, and maturation. Some biologists reserve the term senescence (see below) for changes associated with loss of function and degradation later in life, but in modern parlance aging is synonymous with senescence. Demographers have their own definition: aging is the increase in the probability of death associated with changes in the body. This allows for the possibility of negative senescence (see above) or declining aging, in which the probability of death decreases with increasing age.
Microbiome
Greek micrós mikrós “small”, Greek βoos bios “life”
All microorganisms and their collective genetic material found in or on the human body or in any other environment.
Protein
A chain of amino acids folded into a three-dimensional structure. Each protein is specialized to perform a specific task so that cells can grow, divide, and function. Proteins are one of the four macromolecules that make up all living things (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids).
RNA
Abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. Transcribed from a DNA template and is usually used to control the synthesis of proteins. CRISPR-associated proteins use RNAs as a guide to find suitable target sequences in DNA.
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