“I feel like I've become a senior citizen overnight!”

It's not unusual to suddenly feel like you’ve aged 10 years in one.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I feel 10 years older than I did a year ago”, you’re not alone. Although the effects of aging progress continuously along the adult lifespan, researchers are now explaining why the effects of aging feel more rapid at certain periods of life. 

Researchers  from Stanford University and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have found that humans age in distinct “waves” occurring at around age 44 and age 60. At these time periods, an increased number of molecules in the body undergo significant changes than at other ages. These are distinct periods of unusually high biological upheaval. 

These changes are not specifically related to menopause, and they occur in males and females. Similar to how puberty causes a sudden and marked shift across many body systems in teenagers, these two shifts cause predictable changes in our bodies at specific time periods. 

The 40s crest

Researchers found that beginning in the early 40s and extending to the late 40s, individuals experience increased difficulty in processing fats and cholesterol, less efficient at breaking down alcohol and caffeine, early signs of aging in the blood vessels and heart, loss of skin elasticity, and less strength and recovery in muscles. 

The 60s crest

In the 60s, individuals experience a accelerated decline in ability to fight off infections and diseases, further changes in heart and blood vessel function, further difficulty processing carbohydrates (increasing diabetes risk), reduced ability for kidneys to filter blood, more noticeable loss of skin elasticity and muscle strength, and less ability for the body to repair cell damage. 

Fighting Back

It is never too late to address age-related change head-on. Although we do not yet have a way to prevent these chemical changes in the body, there are highly effective strategies available to you today that not only can slow these changes, but give your body the support it needs to keep you doing the things you love. Getting started before each phase gives you a head start in minimizing the impact.

Is it too late? I’m already past these phases!

Absolutely not! Individual lifestyle factors are much more relevant than broad trends when it comes to individual wellness. And once you know what you’re targeting, a few changes can make a big difference.

Stay tuned

This series is going to address each of these changes in turn, empowering you with the knowledge and practical strategies you can use in your everyday life. Watch this space for upcoming information on how to specifically address changes in strength, skin elasticity, metabolism, your immune system, cognition, and more. Click here to sign up for our e-mail list and never miss a single post.

-Helen Mulder OT