The two key ages when our bodies shift down a gear

Turning points

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

If you thought our bodies aged gradually, think again. New research has found there are two precise turning points when our bodies undergo a marked change – 44 and 60.

135,000 molecules under the microscope

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

Researchers analyzed 135,000 different molecules – RNA, proteins and metabolites – and microbes –the bacteria, viruses and fungi living in the gut and on the skin of the participants.

Periods of "dramatic change"

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

“It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s – and that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at,” Prof. Michael Snyder told The Guardian.

Why our bodies fail us

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

According to the Max Plank Institute, it has been widely believed that damage to genetic material, cells, and tissues accumulated over the years that cannot be repaired by the body is the reason our bodies fail us as we get older.

Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

But Snyder’s research suggests that there are spikes in the aging process, which might account for why people often suffer from certain ailments at those specific times of life.

Skin and muscle molecules

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

While most of the molecules studied experienced big shifts when the volunteers were around their mid 40s and early 60s, molecules linked to skin and muscle changed at both target times.

Which molecules change when

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

Molecules related to metabolic and heart issues first began at 44. Around 60, molecular changes leading to immune regulation – arthritis and other inflammatory conditions – were observed, as were those accelerating the possibility of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s.

Slowing the pace of ageing

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

New research published in Nature this summer shows that blocking an inflammatory cytokine protein called IL-11 slows the pace of aging, with mice living longer and healthier lives when it was inhibited.

Chronic inflammation

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

Chronic inflammation, along with an imbalance of intestinal flora, are among the established hallmarks of aging, according to the Max Plank Institute.

The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

Chronic low-level inflammation is often present in older tissue. The inflammation leads to tissue damage and can be linked to age-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the National Library of Medicine.

Pathogenic bacteria in the gut

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

When it comes to an increased imbalance of intestinal flora, old age means less diversity of bacteria in the gut, with more pathogenic bacteria emerging.

The super-aged

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

According to the Max Plank Institute, people who live extremely long lives and are healthy into old age, have been found to have microbes in their gut normally found only in younger people, suggesting that they have a healthier microbiome.

Living forever

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

For some it’s not just about being healthy into old age but living forever. Tech tycoon Bryan Johnson, 46, is obsessed with an idea he calls “the most significant revolution in the history of Homo Sapiens.”

Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

Johnson’s strategy for beating mortality involves taking 111 pills every day, wearing a baseball hat that targets his skull with a red light, handing daily stool samples over to doctors, and monitoring his nighttime erections, according to Time magazine.

The importance of early healthy lifestyles

Turning points, 135,000 molecules under the microscope, Periods of "dramatic change", Why our bodies fail us, Why ailments tend to happen at specific ages, Skin and muscle molecules, Which molecules change when, Slowing the pace of ageing, Chronic inflammation, The molecules behind obesity and diabetes 2, Pathogenic bacteria in the gut, The super-aged, Living forever, Tech tycoon's strategies for beating mortality, The importance of early healthy lifestyles

The Stanford research, meanwhile, has led to a more modest conclusion – that of focusing on our health early in our lives. “I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy,” Snyder told The Guardian.

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