A new study has identified a turning point in human aging at around age 50, revealing that this is when tissues and organs begin to accelerate in their aging process. The researchers, led by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed proteins in human bodies across a wide range of adult ages and found that blood vessels are among the fastest to decline.
The study used tissue samples from 76 organ donors between the ages of 14 and 68 who had died of accidental traumatic brain injury. The researchers compared their findings to a database of diseases and found that expressions of 48 disease-related proteins increased with age, including cardiovascular conditions, tissue fibrosis, and liver-related tumors.
The most significant changes occurred between the ages of 45 and 55, with substantial proteomic remodeling occurring in the aorta. This suggests that human aging is a complex process involving different systems, rather than a linear progression.
To test their findings, the researchers isolated a protein associated with aging in mouse aortas and found that it caused reduced physical performance, decreased grip strength, and lower endurance in young mice. The study has been published in Cell and may lead to the development of targeted interventions for aging and age-related diseases.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/study-reveals-turning-point-when-your-bodys-aging-accelerates