Here are the two ages of life when the body becomes “old”

So it is not a figment of imagination. From a certain age, the famous and terrible “old age” hits with full force. And twice rather than once. This is what a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, published in the American scientific journal specializing in the field of aging, proves. Aging in nature August 14, 2024

For their work, the scientists began with the observation that the risks of Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular problems gradually increased before the age of 60, and then increased sharply in the following years. They analyzed thousands of different molecules in people between the ages of 25 and 75, as well as their microbiome (the bacteria, viruses and fungi found in our bodies and on our skin). They first deduced four “age types” (types of aging), which showed that the kidneys, liver, metabolism and immune system age at different rates depending on the individual.

Two brutal levels of aging

That’s not all. Analyzing the participants’ biological samples over several years, they found that about 81% of the molecules and microbes collected increased or decreased in non-linear numbers over time. They also found that the most remarkable transformations occurred in two periods of our existence, rather than others.

“We do not change gradually over time. there are really dramatic changes,” said Michael Snyder, professor of genetics and lead author of the study, in a press release. Before clarifying. “It turns out that the middle of the 40s is a period of sharp changes, like the beginning of the 60s. And this is true regardless of the class of molecules we study.”

The mid-40s are a period of dramatic change, just like the early 60s

Michael Snyder, professor of genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine

The study details that the most significant changes seen in people between the ages of 40 and 60 are in the number of molecules associated with alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism, cardiovascular disease, skin and muscle. In the sixties, they are associated with carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, cardiovascular disease, skin and muscle.

A “surprising” finding for the over-forties

These developments are not “surprising” to Michael Snyder for individuals in their sixties, “because we know that the risks of age-related diseases and other age-related phenomena increase at this stage of life,” he recalls. On the other hand, the researchers said they were “surprised” by the extent of changes seen in people in their mid-40s.

Indeed, they initially believed that menopause or menopause caused major shocks in the women in their study, skewing the results of all samples. But when they divided the research group by gender, they found that these variations were not only female, but also occurred in men of the same age. “This suggests that while menopause or menopause may contribute to the changes seen in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other, more important factors that influence these changes in both men and women,” says Shen. is a former postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine, now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The expert says that “the identification and study of these factors should be a priority for further research.”

Less alcohol and more physical activity

Is it Mother Nature’s fault? Not necessarily. It’s possible that these effects are related to each person’s lifestyle rather than biological factors, Michael Snyder added in the same press release. For example, alcohol metabolic dysfunction can occur due to increased alcohol consumption in the mid-40s.

While waiting to learn more, the scientific team emphasizes that people in their forties and sixties need to take control of their health, specifically recommending “increase physical activity to protect your heart and maintain your muscle mass at these two ages” or “reduce your alcohol consumption At 40, because your ability to metabolize alcohol slows down.”