PALO ALTO, California – A new study from Stanford Medicine reveals significant shifts in molecular and microbial levels in the body during the mid-40s and early 60s, potentially affecting health and the risk of age-related diseases.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine discovered that many molecules and microorganisms experience dramatic increases or decreases in abundance during these key age periods. The study, recently published in the journal Nature Aging, analyzed thousands of different molecules in people aged 25 to 75, along with their microbiomes – the bacteria, viruses, and fungi residing inside and on their bodies.
Lead author Michael Snyder, PhD, noted that the mid-40s and early 60s mark periods of rapid change in the body, challenging the idea that aging is a gradual process. The research team, including Xiaotao Shen, PhD, found that changes in molecules related to cardiovascular disease and immune function were particularly pronounced during these age points.
Previous insights from the same group of study participants revealed four distinct “ageotypes,” showing variations in aging rates for different bodily systems. By tracking the biological samples of 108 individuals over several years, researchers identified over 135,000 different molecules and microbes undergoing age-related fluctuations.
The study highlighted that around 81% of the molecules analyzed showed non-linear changes in abundance, with the most significant transformations occurring during the mid-40s and early 60s. These abrupt changes challenge the conventional understanding of age-related disease risks progressively increasing with chronological age.
The findings suggest that lifestyle and behavioral factors could contribute to these fluctuations, necessitating individuals in their 40s and 60s to pay attention to their health. The study’s authors emphasize the importance of adjusting lifestyles proactively to maintain health and well-being as individuals age.
Further investigation is planned to explore the factors driving these clusters of changes and their implications for health and disease risk. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Stanford Data Science Initiative, underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the body’s dynamic changes during key life stages.