A recent study found that when it comes to the impact of aging, your body goes through major changes at two critical ages.
We all know that our bodies change as we age. A lot of these changes we can see, such as graying hair and skin wrinkles. However, most of these changes are not visible as they happen inside the body to organs, tissues, and even on a cellular level. It is these unseen changes that can have the most profound impacts on our overall health and, ultimately, longevity.
A new study recently published in the journal Nature Aging has now added a lot to what we know about how aging affects the inside of the body. Scientists from the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that humans undergo two major changes in their molecules and microorganisms around the ages of 44 and 60.
The researchers say these changes can potentially have a major impact on a person’s health, including cardiovascular health and ultimate lifespan.
“This is an important finding that will help us better understand the biochemical changes that underlie aging and potentially provide targets for therapy depending on someone’s stage in life,” they concluded.
For this study, researchers analyzed data from 108 people living in California between the ages of 25 and 75. Study participants were tracked for an average of 1.7 years, with a maximum of about seven years.
Throughout the study, participants donated blood and other biological samples every few months, which allowed scientists to track changes in their bodies’ molecules and microbiomes.
Key Takeaways From This Study:
- The two ages with the largest molecule and microbe changes, scientists found, occur when a person is in their mid-40s and early 60s.
- These age-related molecular changes are associated with certain health risks, including cardiovascular disease.
- Studies like this are important because the more we know about the internal effects of aging we can then take action to reduce many of the problems associated with aging.
- Studies like this may also help us to develop new therapies for diseases that result from abnormal aging,
You can read the complete study entitled Nonlinear dynamics of multi-omics profiles during human aging by clicking on the link.