Aging may not be as gradual as it seems.
A new study from Stanford University in California has revealed that there are two periods during which aging appears to accelerate.
The two spikes tend to occur around age 44 and at age 60, the study found.
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In the study, 108 participants, ages 25 to 75, provided blood and biological samples over several years, according to a Stanford University press release.
A new study from Stanford University in California has revealed that there are two periods during which aging appears to accelerate. (iStock)
The researchers analyzed more than 135,000 molecules and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) and found that most of them do not change “gradually and over time.”
“We're not just changing gradually over time, we're seeing really dramatic changes,” Dr. Michael Snyder, professor of genetics and lead author of the study, said in the release.
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“We found that the mid-40s, as well as the early 60s, are a time of dramatic change, and this is true no matter what class of molecules we look at.”
The findings were published last month in the journal Nature Ageing.
Doctors say that people in their 60s are more likely to experience age-related changes that affect their organs and immune systems. (iStock)
Dr. Brittany Ferri, a New York-based occupational therapist with the National Council on Aging, agreed that aging isn't always a steady process.
“At some point in your life, big changes happen,” Ferri, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “People tend to go through changes that impact their health going forward.”
“At certain stages, there are noticeable changes in how the body functions.”
Ferri said that in their 40s, people are likely to face more stress and make lifestyle changes that can affect their health, while in their 60s, age-related changes start to affect their organs and immune system.
“Aging progresses in distinct stages, and certain stages result in noticeable changes in how the body functions,” she added.
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These “rapid changes” could affect people's health as they age, the study found.
“From your 40s to your 60s, there are significant changes in key molecules and microbes involved in heart health and the immune system,” Ferri told Fox News Digital after reviewing the study's findings.
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“In your 40s, molecular changes that affect how your body processes fat and alcohol may increase your risk of heart disease if not properly managed,” she continued.
“In your 60s, changes in your immune system make you more susceptible to age-related health problems.”
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by the changes at this age, as this is a time when people are more likely to develop age-related diseases and symptoms. (iStock)
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by the changes at this age, as this is a time when people are more likely to develop age-related diseases and symptoms.
But the spike in the mid-40s was unexpected: Initially, the change was thought to be due to menopause or the peri-menopause in women, but it was found to be occurring in men of the same age, too.
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“This suggests that although perimenopause or menopause may contribute to the changes we see in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other more important factors influencing these changes in both men and women,” lead author Xiaotao Shen, PhD, a former postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a statement.
“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research.”
The researchers stressed the importance of healthy behaviours such as regular exercise and proper nutrition to combat rapid ageing. (iStock)
The main limitation, Snyder acknowledged, is that these changes could be driven by lifestyle and behavioral factors that tend to appear in people in their 40s and 60s.
The research team plans to further study this rapid aging phenomenon in the future.
“I'm a big believer in trying to adjust your lifestyle while you're still healthy.”
They also stressed the importance of adopting healthy behaviors to counter these changes.
“That could mean increasing exercise to protect the heart and maintain muscle mass at both ages, or reducing alcohol intake in your 40s, when your ability to metabolize alcohol decreases,” the researchers wrote.
For people in their 40s, it's important to eat a healthy diet, manage stress and limit alcohol to support changes in metabolism and heart health, the doctor advised. (iStock)
“I'm a big believer in trying to make lifestyle adjustments while you're healthy,” Snyder added.
For people in their 40s, it's important to eat healthily, manage stress and limit alcohol to support changes in metabolism and heart health, Ferri said.
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“In your 60s, focus on leading an active lifestyle to boost your immune system and maintain a healthy weight,” she recommended.
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The Stanford research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Stanford Data Science Initiative.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
