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A new study has shown that the aging process occurs in distinct "waves" during adulthood, one in the mid-40s and the other in the early 60s. This contradicts the traditional notion of a slow and steady process of aging, according to the First Post website.
Two main waves
The study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University, and published in the journal Nature Aging, revealed that the aging process occurs in distinct "waves", contrary to the traditional notion that it is gradual.
After extensive research, the researchers concluded that people age in two main "waves" during their adult lives, the first in the mid-40s and the other in the early 60s.
Surprising signs
The formation of wrinkles, sagging skin, gray hair, pain in muscles and joints, and increased susceptibility to viral infections all appear to be sudden signs of aging that can be explained by molecular changes that occur during each stage. Such changes may result in weight gain or more severe side effects associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.
“People assume that everyone ages gradually,” Dr. Michael Snyder, a professor of genetics at Stanford University and the study’s lead author, told the Wall Street Journal. “It turns out that most changes are not linear.”
Molecular changes
The researchers examined data from multikple blood and stool samples, as well as mouth, skin and nasal swabs, from 108 healthy Californians aged 25 to 75 over an average of 1.7 years.
After analyzing, the researchers found that 81 percent of the molecules they saw, including RNA and proteins, underwent at least one wave of change.
The scientists concluded that there were two main stages of severe dysregulation: the greatest change occurred at age 44, and the highest spike occurred at age 60.
Physiological fitness
“These studies probably fit well with experiences we’ve had ourselves, or heard from others, who see a sudden decline in physiological fitness,” Dr. Steve Hoffman, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany, told the Wall Street Journal.
“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research,” Dr. Xiaotao Chen, a former postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine and an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told the Daily Mail.
At age 60, a similar but less pronounced “wave” of aging was observed. Some of these changes are likely related to behavioral or lifestyle issues that tend to cluster in these age groups, Dr. Snyder said.
Initially, the researchers hypothesized that women going through menopause or perimenopause might be behind the aging trend seen in their 40s. But they noticed that men showed signs of the same aging trend.
Unhealthy lifestyle
According to their theory, people who lead an unhealthy lifestyle in their mid-40s — a period of life marked by frequent stress — may have poorer metabolism.
According to the researchers, the findings may explain why people become more susceptible to serious illnesses linked to the flu as they age. That includes changes that occur in people who reach their 60s.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about two-thirds of Americans age 65 and older have two chronic conditions, and nearly 90 percent of them have at least one chronic health condition.
Important Tips
The team of researchers advises those who reach the milestones of 44 and 60 to exercise frequently and adopt a healthier diet in order to counteract the effects of the major “waves” of aging. Dr. Snyder expressed his firm belief that “[one] should try to modify their lifestyles while they are still healthy.”
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