When do we stop being young? A study suggests after the age of 44 and 60

We know that ageing does not proceed slowly and steadily. Scientists have identified key stages where a before and an after can be identified. The Stanford School of Medicine of the American University of Stanford published a study in the journal Nature Ageing indicating the first stage at the age of 44 and the second around the age of 60.

At these two moments, in fact, drastic changes take place at the biomolecular level, with thousands of molecules and microorganisms in the body suddenly increasing or decreasing. The existence of this phenomenon should, according to the researchers, prompt one to pay attention to one's health and adapt one's lifestyle especially at these key moments in life.

The authors of the study led by Xiaotao Shen examined data from 108 volunteers between the ages of 25 and 75, who were followed for several years in order to better understand the biology of ageing. This made it possible to monitor age-related changes in more than 135,000 molecules and microorganisms: thousands of these undergo significant changes over the course of a lifetime, concentrated mainly at certain times. Around the age of 44, the molecules most affected are those linked to alcohol, caffeine and fat metabolism and those associated with cardiovascular disorders.A recent study at Stanford University revealed that youth, from a protein perspective, ends around the age of 34.

This discovery indicates that from this age, we begin to undergo significant cellular changes that mark the beginning of adulthood. We should also remember that a Stanford study had shown that after the age of 34, the human body produces less protein, resulting in a decrease in muscle mass and an increased susceptibility to various diseases. It should be pointed out that other research also offers different perspectives on the ageing process. The World Health Organisation (WHO), for example, defines the onset of old age as around 74 years. The Stanford researchers, for example, were not very surprised by the step at age 60, since it is known that the risks of many age-related diseases increase precisely at that time, while they were surprised by the presence of the step at age 44, since it affects men and women equally, and is therefore not due to the menopause. According to the authors of the article, it is possible that some of these changes are related to lifestyle or behaviour typical of these age groups, rather than biological factors. This is just to mention that studies on ageing are rather recent. While the perception of youth and ageing is a cultural factor.