Aging, at least when it comes to your molecules and microbiome, isn't a steady, even process, new research suggests The body undergoes peak changes in this regard during the mid-40s and the 60s These changes can affect health and might be due to a mix of genetics and lifestyle WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Aging Americans, you're not imagining things: Big shifts in physical well-being do occur at certain points in the life span, new research shows. A team at Stanford University has found "massive" changes during a person's mid-40s and early 60s in regards to the molecules and microorganisms that help maintain the body.
“We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes,” said study senior author , chair of genetics at Stanford. “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.
” As his team explained it, the human body requires many thousands of different types of molecules to function and thrive. It also needs the symbiotic help of a teeming number of microorganisms -- bacteria, fungi and viruses -- that live inside people and on their skin. However, these molecules and germs aren't static: Their composition changes as people age, according to the new report published Aug.
14 in the journal . Snyder and the paper's lead author were prompted to conduct their analysis when they noticed that the risk for many illnesses don't rise .