2024-08-28 11:00:06
Stanford University researchers recently shed light on the nonlinear nature of biological aging.
Contrary to the widely held idea that our bodies age in a progressive and uniform manner, this study reveals that aging is characterized by two periods of intense molecular changes, occurring on average around 44 and 60 years old. These findings open new perspectives for understanding how these phases influence the health and the risk of age-related diseases.
The Stanford team, led by Michael Snyder, followed a group of 108 people aged 25 to 75 over several years.
By analyzing thousands of molecules and the microbiomes of these participants, the researchers discovered that the majority of changes do not occur gradually, but are concentrated at specific times. Notably, 81% of the molecules studied showed significant fluctuations around the ages of 44 and 60. These variations concern molecules linked to metabolism, the immune system, and cardiovascular diseases.
The first major changes, around age 44, concern in particular the metabolism of lipids and alcohol, and are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This finding is surprising, because it implies that these changes occur in both men and women, and are therefore not exclusively linked to menopause as might have been imagined. On the other hand, the changes observed around age 60 are mainly linked to immune function, carbohydrate metabolism, and the decline in renal function, which could explain the increased risk of serious diseases at this age.
These results suggest that our biological aging is influenced by factors other than the simple passage of time. The researchers do not rule out that lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption or stressmay also play a role in these transformations. This highlights the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, especially around the ages of 40 and 60, to mitigate the effects of aging.
The Stanford study could pave the way for new strategies to prevent and treat age-related diseases by focusing on these critical periods of life. However, the precise causes of these changes need to be better understood in order to anticipate and manage them effectively.
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