At 34, 60, 78 years old: our body ages in 3 stages

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We are all getting old. Gradually and every day, right? Researchers at Stanford University are now challenging this assumption and instead postulate three points in time when the body actually changes. This could, for example, improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Aging is creeping up, or so doctors thought until now. But new research from Stanford University shows that this assumption about the aging process leaving its mark on the brain, skin, heart and body at the same rate is wrong.

Most likely, there are three age groups that are crucial for biological age and mean, respectively, big changes in the body: 34, 60 and 78 years. Because then the amount of proteins in our blood plasma changes significantly, scientists working with Benoit Lehalier explain in their work. To do this, they analyzed the blood plasma of 4,263 people aged 18 to 95.

Researchers talk about three “waves of aging”.

“We were able to determine the wave-like changes of certain proteins in the subjects over time,” the American researchers explain. “This led to three waves of aging.”

Scientists studied about 3,000 different types of proteins found in the blood. Their share remained largely constant for decades. However, doctors noticed large fluctuations at the age of 34, 60 and 78 years. Researchers attribute these changes in protein levels to significant changes in the body as a whole.

How blood and age are related is unclear

Exactly how proteins or blood composition affect the aging process is still unclear. But the results of American scientists are consistent with previous studies, which also suggested the presence of relevant connections. For example, colleagues from Stanford University have already shown in mice that blood transfusions from young animals have a positive effect on the health and aging process of old animals.

Blood analyzes can indicate premature aging and related with this risks

So far, doctors have not been able to draw any conclusions from this regarding the treatment of people. However, the Stanford researchers see a very promising mechanism between blood and aging. Based on this, doctors could use the appropriate tests to study specific proteins in the blood of patients in the future and thus to detect age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. or cardiovascular disease earlier and reduce the risk.

What was particularly remarkable was that people whose age was estimated to be significantly lower than their actual age due to blood protein concentrations were unusually healthy for their age.