New research is shaking up what we thought we knew about aging—and giving us some great conversation starters for Friday wine night. Instead of aging being a gradual process as we all so confidently thought, a recent study suggests that aging happens in two big bursts—one around age 44 and another at 60. Stanford University experts spent nearly seven years tracking thousands of molecules in people aged 25 to 75, and their findings, published in Nature Aging, highlight these ages as times of “rapid” change.
Here’s what they found in the study: Around age 44 and again at 60, our bodies undergo significant shifts in various molecules. The first burst impacts molecules tied to heart health and metabolism, while the second wave affects those linked to immune function, carbohydrate processing, and kidney health. Both of these periods also influence skin and muscle aging.
“We’re not just changing gradually over time,” said professor Michael Snyder, director of Stanford’s Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine and senior author of the study. “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.”
At first, researchers thought the mid-40s spike might be due to perimenopause in women, but similar shifts showed up in men, too. “This suggests that while menopause or perimenopause may contribute to the changes observed in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other, more significant factors influencing these changes in both men and women,” explained Dr. Xiaotao Shen, another one of the study’s authors.
These bursts could explain why we see an uptick in health issues like heart disease and muscle loss at these specific ages. More specifically, the findings support the idea that the risk of age-related issues like Alzheimer’s and heart disease increase greatly after 60. Professor Snyder is optimistic about the impact of this research, though, stressing that awareness of these bursts can help us take proactive steps, like increasing exercise to help prevent muscle loss at those crucial ages. “I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy,” Snyder said.
What this means for your beauty and wellness routine? Well, this research is yet another reminder to stay proactive. Whether it’s updating your skin-care routine, prioritizing fitness, or just making smarter lifestyle choices across the board (remember: it’s all about balance!), being aware of these key aging bursts can help you tackle the aging process with even more confidence.
