There are points in life where our bodies change rapidly — and I’m not just talking about puberty. Changes keep coming even decades after you grew two sizes in a summer, recent research shows.
A study led by researchers at Stanford University’s School of Medicine has identified two points in adulthood when our bodies undergo rapid biological aging. (Biological age is a measure of age based on the condition of the cells in your body instead of the length of time you’ve been alive.)
The findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Aging.
On average, the two points in adulthood when our bodies change dramatically are age 44 and age 60.
For the study, researchers assessed blood and other biological samples from a group of 108 participants between the ages of 25 and 75 every few months over several years. They tracked thousands of biological measures:
- Molecules, including proteins and metabolites (which are substances created when the body breaks down things we consume, like food)
- Microorganisms, like bacteria and other microbes that live in our bodies, such as in our digestive systems or on our skin
The researchers found that the number of these molecules and microorganisms in the body changed dramatically at the two different points in adulthood, rather than changing gradually over time.
Participants in their 40s saw significant changes in the number of molecules linked to:
- Metabolism of alcohol, caffeine and lipids (which are fats such as cholesterol)
- Heart disease
- Skin and muscle
Researchers made a point to separate their data on men and women after wondering if women experiencing menopause or perimenopause were skewing the data — they were not. The changes were seen in both men and women.
Participants in their 60s saw significant changes in the number of molecules related to:
- Metabolism of carbohydrates and caffeine
- Heart disease
- Skin and muscle
- Regulation of the immune system
- Kidney function
The researchers noted that these dramatic changes likely affect our health, pointing out that the risk of developing heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, for example, increases sharply in older age.
They also noted, however, that some of these changes may be lifestyle-related, not strictly biological. Dysfunction in alcohol metabolism, for example, could result from a rise in alcohol consumption when people are in their mid-40s, which tends to be a stressful period in life.
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