An international team of researchers from Stanford University has concluded that human aging is not a smooth and uniform process. Instead of gradual changes in the body, there are sharp molecular jumps that scientists have called “aging peaks.” The most pronounced periods are recognized as the mid-40s and early 60s.
A large-scale study published in Science Alert analyzed more than 135,000 biomolecular changes in the bodies of 108 adults. Participants regularly provided blood, tissue, and microbiome samples over several years, which allowed us to identify patterns in the functioning of metabolic and immune systems.
The first peak, recorded at around age 44, is associated with changes in lipid, caffeine and alcohol metabolism, as well as in the functioning of the heart, muscles and skin. It is during this period that the first signs of age-related changes may begin to appear - decreased energy, impaired recovery from exercise, and sleep problems.
The second peak, which occurs in the early 60s, concerns carbohydrate metabolism, kidney function, and the immune system. At this time, the risks of age-related diseases — such as Alzheimer's disease or cardiovascular pathologies — increase sharply, rather than gradually.
The researchers say the findings help explain why a person's health sometimes "collapses" after a certain age, despite being relatively stable in previous years. However, they note that the study was conducted on a limited sample of people aged 25 to 70 and needs to be continued.
Such discoveries can change the approach to preventing aging and age-related diseases, because instead of abstract "aging", doctors can focus on critical periods of the body.
