US scientists have discovered humans undergo two ‘really dramatic changes’ in their body’s molecules and micro- organisms around ages 44 and 60.
These age-related molecular changes are associated with certain health risks, including cardiovascular disease.
While some common ageing body changes can be seen externally (such as greying hair and skin wrinkles) many of the alterations are not visible as they happen inside the body organs, tissues and even on a cellular level.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, whose study was published in Nature Aging, analysed data from 108 people living in California between ages 25-75; participants were tracked for an average 1.7 years with a maximum of 7 years, donating blood and other biological samples every few months (allowing scientists to track changes in their bodies’ molecules and microbiomes).
Overall the research team tracked age-related changes in more than 135,000 different molecules and microbes for almost 250 million distinct data points.
Senior author Professor Michael Snyder told medicalnewstoday.com: ‘We are tracking people in incredible detail – measuring as many molecules as possible (tens of thousands) and their microbes to get a detailed picture of their health. ‘In the process, we can also see how they age.’
His team noticed about 81% of the molecules and microbes they identified change more at certain ages than at other times in a person’s life span: the two ages with the largest molecule and microbe changes occur when
a person is in their mid-40s and early 60s.
With people in their 40s, the team discovered significant changes in the number of molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and lipid metabolism, as well as cardiovascular disease and skin and muscle.
At age 60, the biggest molecule changes related to cardiovascular disease, immune regulation, kidney function, carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, and skin and muscle.
Professor Snyder said it is important for researchers to continue to examine what happens to the body during biological ageing ‘because we can then take action to reduce many of the problems associated with ageing.
‘The goal is to have people live long healthy lives. You can track these changes and take action with this information. For example, get on statins as you hit your 40s or just before, and make sure you exercise through life. In your 60s, drink plenty of water for keeping healthy kidneys, eat immune boosters and antioxidants.
‘Be aware of your health changes so that you can take action and live a long and healthy life.’
