Are we aging constantly or in series? What scientists know so far.

For many people, it seems that this happened at stops and starts. After a period of velvety sailing, one day, apparently unexpected, you have sore knees.

“You wake up in the morning and suddenly you feel ancient,” said Dr. Steve Hoffmann, professor of computing biology at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Jena, Germany. “It’s a take -out type.”

It turns out that there may be a scientific basis of this experience. Analyzing age -related markers, such as proteins and DNA markers in the bloodstream, some scientists understand that aging in adulthood is not a linear process, but perhaps one that will jump dramatically at some points of life.

Here’s what they have learned so far and what can ultimately mean for your health and life.

What does “non -linear aging” look like?

Scientists have long suspected that aging can occur in series, but they have started using molecular signals to measure the rate of aging over the past decade.

AND Commonly discussed Stanford study Published last year, he followed several molecular changes related to the aging of blood samples gathered from 108 adults aged 25 to 75 years. Comparing samples from different people of all ages, it was found that people seemed to age faster at the age of about 44, and around 60. Clubs of changes in the first spikes seemed to be usually associated with fat metabolism and alcohol, as well as muscle function, and the second rose for immuting dysf. muscle function. Michael Snyder, professor of genetics at Stanford Medicine and Study co -enthusiast in Stanford Medicine and study co -owner in Stanford Medicine and studio co -author in Stanford Medicine, said that the first acceleration can assist explain why people have more problems with alcohol processing from 40 and why they become more susceptible to the disease in the age of 60. years, professor of genetics at Stanford Medicine and Study.

Also last year Mouse test The co -author by Dr. Hoffmann said that sudden chemical modifications of DNA took place in early life to the medium rodent play and again in half of the end to the end, which suggests that there were three tactful stages of aging.

And in Research 2019 Looking at blood plasma composed of over 4,000 people, scientists said that there were significant jumps in protein concentrations associated with aging in the fourth, seventh and eighth decade of life.

Other experts believe that aging does not necessarily happen in brief hills, but rather in longer phases. Steve Horvath, who is widely considered a pioneer of biological aging tools known as epigenetic clocks, said Study 2013 He conducted, stated that the aging indicator occurs after a steep curve from early childhood to puberty, but becomes linear after the age of 20. (Dr. Horvath is now a basic researcher at Altos Labs, a company of biotechnology focusing on improving cell health and slowing down the disease associated with aging.

Is also Early suggestive data This Some organs -What like a heart or brain-can be older than others, said Tony Wyss-Coray, a professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University, who was the author of the 2019 study.

Regardless of whether they occur in phases or grooves, it is not yet clear how all these molecular changes actually contribute to aging and age -related disease. Despite this, such findings can provide more insight into the biology underlying well -known middle -aged changes, such as the slowdown in metabolism, said Allison Aiello, a professor of epidemiology at the aging center of Robert N. Boukler Columbia.

In practice, this may mean that people can be more focused on managing their health, focusing on specific changes and conditions correlating their special age, said Aditi Gurkar, medical assistant professor at the University of Aging Institute in Pittsburgh.

What next?

These discoveries are “quite fascinating, but I would say initially,” said Dr. Eric Verdin, president and head of the Chief at Buck Institute for Research on Aging. And he causes a whole series of questions, said: “What is happening? Which organ or set of organs causes these major changes? “

There are other open questions, including if changes differ depending on individual or between sexes, and how much lifestyle and behavior can contribute, because there is more and more evidence that some events – such as some events – such as some events pregnancyIN Trauma and adversity or even Covid Infection – It can also accelerate biological aging.

Experts said that they would gladly answer these questions in longitudinal research that follow changes in the life of a person. This method would take into account the differences in the environment or lifestyle among the respondents.

“If you really want to determine if it is a linear trend or whether there are those gushing that occur in very specific periods, you want to follow the same people to see if they are biological,” said Dr. Aiello.

So far, scientists “touch the surface”, how molecular changes relate to aging, said Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, Scientific Director of the National Institute on Aging. He added that by learning more, they can assist people live better and break away from diseases. “Instead of refusing at the age of 70, we can try to fall at 75 and get five years of good life.”