A recent study was done by researchers at Stanford Medicine which revealed a new perspective on how humans age. Opposite to the common belief that aging is a slow, continuous process, the study suggests that our bodies age in sudden bursts, with significant changes occurring in our mid 40s and early 60s. The findings were based on detailed data collected from individuals aged 25 to 75, with the purpose of understanding why people become more prone to diseases like musculoskeletal problems and cardiovascular disease as they age.

Sudden Bursts
Image Source: Stanford University

Professor Michael Snyder is a geneticist and director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University, who is also the senior author of the study, explained the findings. He stated, he further emphasized that “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.”

Understanding the Sudden Bursts in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Changes

The study involved 108 volunteers and tracked them over a period of almost seven years. These participants provided blood samples and other biological samples, including skin, oral, and nasal swabs, every few months. The researchers closely noticed the changes in various molecules and microbes within their bodies.

The results of the study revealed that these biological changes do not happen gradually. Instead, the most significant shifts were observed when the participants reached their mid-40s and early 60s. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of aging as a slow, continuous process.

Dr. Xiaotao Shen is a former postdoctoral scholar at Stanford Medical School and the study's first author, who is now based at Nanyang Technological University Singapore commented on the findings. He stated, “This suggests that while menopause or perimenopause may contribute to the changes observed in women in their mid-40s, other, more significant factors are likely influencing these changes in both men and women.” This shows that the observed changes are not limited to women alone but affect both genders.

The study identified two main "waves" of aging. The first wave comes in the mid-40s and can be seen with changes in molecules linked to cardiovascular disease, as well as the body's ability to metabolize caffeine and alcohol. The second wave comes in the early 60s and affects immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function. Interestingly, the aging of the skin was observed at both points.

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