The human body doesn’t age steadily throughout adulthood — it actually accelerates dramatically between the ages of 44 and 60, according to a new study. The new research, published Aug. 14 in the journal Nature Aging , measured more than 11,000 molecules in adults over time and found that 81 percent of them undergo significant changes between those two ages. This ufabet https://ufabet999.app type of aging research focuses on tracking “biological age. Which refers to changes that occur throughout the body throughout life, affecting proteins, metabolites and gene activity. It’s a different concept than the “ calendar age ” people celebrate each year on their birthdays.
The finding that biological age accelerates at two midlife stages could help researchers understand why the risk of certain diseases increases intermittently with increasing calendar age. For example, about 6.5% of people aged 40 to 59 have coronary artery disease. But the prevalence increases rapidly to 19.8% in those aged 60 to 79.
For the study, Stanford University researchers recruited 108 ethnically diverse participants, ranging in age from 25 to 75. Every three to six months for several years — about seven years total — the scientists took blood samples from the participants to assess how factors like gene activity and blood sugar levels varied over time. Many of the factors that changed between ages 44 and 60 were linked to heart health. For example, proteins linked to coronary artery disease, or the buildup of plaque in the arteries, increased in the blood of participants in their 40s and 60s. These age groups also showed a decrease in their ability to metabolize caffeine. Which temporarily raises blood pressure, and alcohol. Which initially lowers it but later raises it.
The process by which the body makes unsaturated fatty acids. Which help lower “bad” cholesterol levels, also declines during both age periods.
Although this study found several links to heart health. They are only correlational and do not mean they are causal. However, the findings do point to a possible reason why heart disease becomes more common as people age.
In addition to heart health, blood sugar levels were higher in participants in their 40s and 60s, suggesting a possible link to age-related type 2 diabetes.
Scientists don’t yet know why the body’s chemical makeup changes. So dramatically at these ages, and the study didn’t consider lifestyle factors. Such as diet or exercise. That could play a role.
“The tipping point at 60 may be more inflammation-driven,” Juan Carlos Verhan, an aging researcher at the National Institute of Sciences on Aging in Mexico who was not involved in the study, told Live Science. For example, study participants over 60 had higher levels of antioxidant enzymes in their blood. These enzymes act to reduce inflammation, suggesting that inflammation may be building up in this age group.
The age difference at 44 is right around the time that some women start to experience menopause. But the researchers say that both men and women experience similar changes. Suggesting that hormonal changes are not the main cause. There must be another factor that causes the same changes in men and women, and that factor remains a mystery.
This study is limited by the fact that participants ranged in age from 25 to 75 years. Precluding the ability to analyze significant changes in other age periods. Such as adolescence or late adulthood. In addition, the relatively small sample size of 108 participants, from California, may not be generalizable to the global population.
“The California population has a long and healthy life expectancy for the most part,” Dr. Wehrhan said, suggesting the team should expand the study to areas with lower life expectancy to compare and identify factors related to differences in aging.
The researchers focused on studying changes in molecules in the blood. But the results may not generalize to changes occurring in other organs of the body, Dr. Wehrhan added. Several studies have found that the aging process varies from organ to organ, rather than being driven by factors related to blood alone. For example, studies have shown that in some people, the heart may deteriorate faster than other organs, while in others, the kidneys may deteriorate the fastest.
Dr. Xian’s team found several changes that correlated with the onset of age-related diseases. But it remains to be confirmed whether these changes are the cause of the disease. In other words, are the changes found in the blood a trigger for the disease or are they simply a consequence of the aging process?
“Animal studies are one powerful way to study the causes of these two key turning points in aging,” said Dr. Xian. Dr. Wehrhan hypothesizes that epigenetic changes – mechanisms that control gene activity without altering the DNA sequence – may be a key factor driving the visible physiological changes during these life stages.