Aging Hits in Bursts at 44 and 60. I’m Fighting Back.
I begin with one of my most-read essays on Medium:
“Your Body Ages in Leaps: Stanford’s Surprising Findings at Ages 44 and 60.”
Here’s a synopsis:
Stanford University researchers uncovered a surprising pattern in how the human body ages: Aging appears to occur in abrupt leaps instead of a steady, continuous process.
In their groundbreaking study, the scientists discovered significant biological shifts at ages 44 and 60.
These changes involve sudden shifts in blood protein levels, which are linked to organ function, the immune system, and metabolic processes.
Study Details
Based on an analysis of thousands of blood samples, the study revealed that certain proteins surge or decline sharply at these key ages.
For example, around age 44, the body experiences a marked change in metabolic and immune system function.
Then again, at 60, a different wave of proteins alters dramatically, suggesting another biological reset that may be tied to the aging of the cardiovascular and muscular systems.
This observation intrigues me: The findings challenge the traditional view that aging is a linear process.
Instead, it appears the body transitions through distinct stages, like stepping stones, each with its unique biological signature.
The Stanford findings could have profound implications for personalized medicine and age-related disease prevention.
They could allow doctors to tailor interventions at the precise moments when the body is most susceptible to change.
Aging Hits in Bursts at 44 and 60. I’m Fighting Back – Disease Incidences.
Why does it matter that we have profound biochemical changes at particular ages?
Aging-related diseases don’t increase steadily or predictably as we age. Instead, their risk tends to spike at key stages across the lifespan.
Take cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), for example — conditions like atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attacks.
Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Gender and Aging
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
In the U.S., about 40% of people aged 40 to 59 have some form of cardiovascular disease.
But between ages 60 and 79, that number jumps to roughly 75%.
When we reach 80 and older, it climbs even further to around 86%.
Neurodegenerative Diseases
We see a similar pattern in neurodegenerative diseases.
The risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s rises with age but with noticeable turning points — Parkinson’s around age 40 and Alzheimer’s closer to 65.
Interestingly, studies in other species have shown the same kind of accelerated brain aging.
Flies and chimpanzees that survive beyond middle age experience sharper declines echoing what we see in humans.
Aging Hits in Bursts at 44 and 60. I’m Fighting Back.
Here’s how I am fighting back against the biochemical shifts I suffered at 44 and 60.
I focus on:
- Sleep. Bad sleep makes me look older. But did you know that sleep insufficiency is also associated with biological aging? A University of California, Los Angeles study showed that those getting six or fewer hours of sleep per night were biologically 15 months older than their chronological ages.
- Strength training. As we age, we lose muscle. Did you know that after age 30, we begin to lose muscle mass at a steady rate of about 3–8% per decade? But after 60, that decline speeds up significantly. Can you fight back? Yes. One study showed significant improvement in skeletal muscle hypertrophy and function with strength training.
- Optimizing my immune system. I stay up on flu, shingles, Covid, and other preventative vaccines. Getting sufficient sleep is a priority, too. Focusing on a mostly plant-based diet helps. I keep my stress levels down and don’t smoke or consume alcohol. Practice good hygiene: Finally, I wash my hands frequently, especially before eating and after being in public places.
- Hydration. I keep my waste-eliminating kidneys flush with water.
- Checkups. Cholesterol? Check. Blood pressure? Yup. Cancer screening? Of course.
- Aerobic activity. I walk. A lot. Remember those biochemical shifts in our 40s and early 60s? Walk more to achieve a lower biological age.
- Calorie restriction. Calorie reduction appears to slow our aging clocks.
Biological aging is not linear, nor is chronic disease risk.
How many of these health-span-promoting activities are you practicing?
Your Body Ages in Leaps: Stanford’s Surprising Findings at Ages 44 and 60
I remember a colleague mentioning that I would define my 40s as a time when I awakened with pain that had no reason for…medium.com
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