New Delhi: A new study has found that in mid-40s and early 60s, one experiences a dramatic surge or fall in molecules and microbes, significantly affecting heart and immune function, muscles, along with how their body handles alcohol and coffee.
Researchers tracked changes due to ageing in more than 1,35,000 different molecules and microbes in people aged 25 to 75 and found that molecule and microbe counts did not shift gradually over the years.
Risks of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular conditions are known to rise sharply in older age, compared to a gradual increase for those aged under 60.
Researchers drew this conclusion after assessing thousands of molecules — including RNA, proteins and metabolites — and their microbiomes, the collection of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live on and inside us, in people 25 to 75 years old.
Researchers found that 81% of the molecules studied displayed non-linear fluctuations, meaning they underwent more change at certain times than others. The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature Aging.
Michael Syder, chair of genetics and the study’s senior author, imparts, “We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. 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.”
