Have you felt old today? Researchers at Stanford University have discovered that people age in phases. Two years of life are particularly affected.
A new study from Stanford University will make anyone who has anti-wrinkle cream in their cupboard sit up and take notice. It was recently published in the journal “Nature Aging”, which specializes in aging research. “Nonlinear dynamics of multi-omics profiles during human aging” is the title – sounds pretty complicated. But it isn’t.
To date, most scientists have primarily studied linear changes during aging, the authors claim. That is, it is assumed that the process always proceeds in a straight line, without major outliers. However, age-related diseases and the risk of mortality increase at certain points in life. Therefore, it is important to also research nonlinear changes, argues the new study.
Over several years, the researchers examined data from 108 participants aged between 25 and 75 living in California, USA. Every three to six months, they collected blood and stool samples from the test subjects. The scientists also took swabs from the skin, mouth and nose. The full program.
Men and women age similarly
In total, the study recorded over 135,000 biological characteristics, resulting in billions of data points. Most molecules, 81 percent, changed non-linearly. The results of the study therefore show that people age in spurts. “We do not change gradually over time, but there are dramatic periods of change,” explains Michael Snyder, lead author of the study and geneticist at Stanford University.
These were particularly pronounced in participants aged 44 and 60. In participants in their mid-40s, for example, alcohol and fat metabolism changed, and in subjects aged 60, cardiovascular functions changed. These patterns were equally evident in men and women, which surprised the authors of the study.
There is no reason to panic, however. “I am a firm believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyle while we are still healthy,” says Snyder. So if you take care of yourself, exercise and eat a balanced diet, you can significantly mitigate the effects of aging.
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Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
