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We’re Not Aging “Gradually”: Your Body Experiences “Dramatic” Changes At These Two Ages
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We’re Not Aging “Gradually”: Your Body Experiences “Dramatic” Changes At These Two Ages

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Ever felt like aging sometimes sneaks up on you with a vengeance? Well, a new study has cracked the code: there are two prime moments in your life when your body decides to go full drama queen with the aging process.

Researchers from Stanford University have found that aging doesn’t actually creep up on us over the years. Instead, it happens in two major, accelerated bursts.

Highlights
  • Aging doesn't creep up gradually but rather happens in major bursts at two different points in life.
  • Researchers tracked 135,000 types of molecules in 108 adults aged 25 to 75 for age-related changes as part of the study.
  • The mid-40s and early 60s are periods of dramatic change, the researchers found.
  • “We’re not just changing gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes,” the co-author of the study said.

The groundbreaking study tracked 135,000 types of molecules in 108 adults aged 25 to 75. The researchers tracked the molecules every three to six months for age-related changes, and they concluded that the majority of the sampled molecules did not change steadily over time.

Researchers of a new study have found that aging is not a gradual process but happens in spurts at two particular ages

Image credits: Pixabay via Pexels

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels

The findings concluded that there are two significant waves of age-related changes that occur around ages 44 and 60.

“We’re not just changing gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes,” said Michael Snyder, a geneticist and senior author of the study.

“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,” added the director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University.

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The results were concluded after the researchers tracked 135,000 types of molecules in 108 adults aged 25 to 75

Image credits: Iffany / Pixabay

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio

Researchers assessed the thousands of different molecules and microbes using blood, stool, skin, oral, and nasal samples from the 108 volunteers over several years.

The first wave of changes around the mid-40s was related to cardiovascular disease and the body’s ability to metabolize caffeine, alcohol, and fats.

The second wave, around age 60, involved molecules associated with immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function. Notably, molecules linked to skin and muscle aging shifted at both ages.

The findings concluded that humans experience the most “dramatic” aging changes at the ages of 44 and 60

Image credits: Hasan Albari / Pexels

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Image credits: Marcus Aurelius / Pexels

Researchers initially believed that the aging spike occurring at the mid-40s mark was linked to perimenopausal changes in women. However, the data suggested that men in their mid-40s were also undergoing similar changes.

“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,” Dr. Xiaotao Shen, a former postdoctoral scholar at Stanford Medical School and first author of the study, was quoted saying.

“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 Michael Snyder, co-author of the study

Image credits: sabinevanerp / Pixabay

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Dr. Xiaotao, who now works as a computational biologist at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, said the findings could help understand the factors that drive the molecular changes at the ages of 44 and 60.

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“If we can find the drivers of these changes, we may even be able to find ways to slow or even reverse the drivers of the aging at these two time points,” Xiaotao told The Washington Post.

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Binitha Jacob

Binitha Jacob

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

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Binitha Jacob

Binitha Jacob

Author, BoredPanda staff

Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

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Falafal salad
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m 45 and the past year has been hell. Put it all down to perimenopause but this additional information makes a lot of sense.

A girl
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting. At 44, my metabolism went berserk and I lost 50 lbs in 8 months. I've always been chunky so I didn't mind but did see my Dr who adjusted my thyroid meds. I'm 60 now and I'd say my skin is my biggest aging issue. Just saying, the article rings true for me.

Thrillion
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 45. Two years ago I gave up alcohol and cut way back on fats. I'm not over weight at all but my blood work is high in cholesterol. Made in time I guess but the main things I've noticed after turning 40 were changes in my eye sight (had perfect vision) and I don't heal from cuts, muscle strains and sickness near as fast.

iBlank
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 45 as well. Fortunately I cut back alcohol and eating out in my early 30s because of high blood pressure. I've always been a very active person, but at the end of last year I strained my abs, then both my legs and then aggravated an old rotator cuff injury. 2024 has been a pretty miserable, slow recovery time for me. I still remain active, but I have to stop what I'm doing at the first sign of pain now. Learning the proper amount of fuel and electrolyte replenishment has been a game changer for me this year though. I was always mindful of that in the past, but it's never been as important until now.

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Falafal salad
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m 45 and the past year has been hell. Put it all down to perimenopause but this additional information makes a lot of sense.

A girl
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting. At 44, my metabolism went berserk and I lost 50 lbs in 8 months. I've always been chunky so I didn't mind but did see my Dr who adjusted my thyroid meds. I'm 60 now and I'd say my skin is my biggest aging issue. Just saying, the article rings true for me.

Thrillion
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 45. Two years ago I gave up alcohol and cut way back on fats. I'm not over weight at all but my blood work is high in cholesterol. Made in time I guess but the main things I've noticed after turning 40 were changes in my eye sight (had perfect vision) and I don't heal from cuts, muscle strains and sickness near as fast.

iBlank
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 45 as well. Fortunately I cut back alcohol and eating out in my early 30s because of high blood pressure. I've always been a very active person, but at the end of last year I strained my abs, then both my legs and then aggravated an old rotator cuff injury. 2024 has been a pretty miserable, slow recovery time for me. I still remain active, but I have to stop what I'm doing at the first sign of pain now. Learning the proper amount of fuel and electrolyte replenishment has been a game changer for me this year though. I was always mindful of that in the past, but it's never been as important until now.

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Load More Comments
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