Aging Occurs in Bursts at Mid 40s and Early 60s

When I turned 40, I was on top of my game. Working on a PhD, running marathons, lots of energy, life was pretty darn fine. Then around the age of 45 it felt like I slipped off the rails...onto a slower track, if you will. Still fit and energetic, but slightly less so. It was a bit of a wake-up call that made me notice my age. The same thing happened at the age of 60, but this was much more dramatic. I caught a really bad flu and it took months to recover. In fact, it felt like my fitness never fully recovered. I've never had trouble recovering from flus and colds, but this time I couldn't get back to the speed and distances I was running 6 month prior, and that was a real shock. It felt like I had aged years overnight.

Why were these two points in my life so impressionable? Turns out I wasn't alone in feeling these 'aging events', nor were the events at ages of 45 and 60 unique to me. 

A recent study published in Nature Aging is unraveling the reasons why people age dramatically in two bursts.  

Spoiler Alert 

👉 Molecular changes linked to your cardiovascular health and metabolism of alcohol, caffeine and lipids (fat) happen in your mid 40s.  

👉 In your early 60s, declines in your kidney function, immune regulation and carbohydrate metabolism start to occur.  

👉 Managing lifestyle factors for healthy aging should start in your 40s. 

The 'Sciencey' Bit About The Study 

By tracking 135,000 different molecules in each person, including gut microbes, from a small group (108) of people between the ages of 25 and 75, scientists discovered that certain clusters of molecules underwent major shifts in participants who were in their mid-40s and early 60s. In the first wave, the molecules that shifted predominantly were related to cardiovascular disease and the ability to metabolize caffeine, alcohol and lipids (fat). In the second wave, the molecules that changed were associated with immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism and kidney function. An earlier 2019 study suggested that a spike in aging also occurs around 78, but that couldn't be confirmed in this latest study, as none of the participants were older than 75.  

But - haven't we learned that aging is a gradual process? Yes, it is mostly gradual, but with a couple of plot twists thrown in for a little excitement. Think of it as life’s way of spicing things up—like adding habanero peppers to your soup by accident – to grab your attention. This new research explains why you might notice some unexpected surprises like a shift in energy levels, new aches, pains and wrinkles, and maybe even weight gain at specific points or 'bursts' in your life.  

Oh, great. What benefit could this research possibly offer other than the very obvious "Science has once again confirmed that aging exists. What's next, water is wet"?   

🧠 Well, clever scientists never start a research project without first considering why it's important to do that research.  

Start Thinking About Healthy Aging in Mid-Life 

The scientists who conducted the study were surprised by the spike in these molecular changes in the mid-40s age group and initially thought it was likely due to the dramatic peri-menopausal changes in women that were skewing the overall results. But when they looked closer they noticed the same changes in the men at this age as well. It's well known that the symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease (which don't typically show up until around the age of 60) are actually the result of changes that begin as much as 20 years earlier, and that kind of fits with the results of this study. 

Okay, serious aging stuff starts to happen in your mid 40s. Should you take notice? And maybe do something about it? 

Short answer: Definitely.  

Slightly longer answer: The vast majority of the risk factors for dementia are modifiable, meaning you can change your lifestyle to reduce your risk. More and more research is now suggesting that midlife is the critical time for getting on board with some healthy habits like 1) a good diet and stimulating activities for cognitive fitness, 2) lots of exercise for maintaining muscle strength, and 3) avoiding smoking and alcohol abuse. This won't stop the inevitable aging process, but will certainly help to maintain a healthy body  and brain.

What Does This Mean For You? 

People tend to focus on lifespan (longevity), but healthspan, which is often shorter than lifespan, is equally if not more important. Managing your weight and diet, and making healthy lifestyle choices can help extend your healthspan and keep you feeling great as you get older.

Let's stop adding years to life and focus on

adding life to years! 

The take-home message here is that the current study highlights the importance of developing good habits early in life (prevention), rather than waiting until you're no longer healthy and then having to try to catch up (vs cure).

Which would you rather do?