News: 0178490670

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Ageing Accelerates at Around Age 50 - Some Organs Faster Than Others (nature.com)

(Monday July 28, 2025 @11:22AM (msmash) from the middle-aged-and-feeling-it dept.)


A new analysis of protein changes across human tissues has [1]identified an aging acceleration point around age 50 , with blood vessels showing the most dramatic deterioration. Researchers examined tissue samples from eight body systems in 76 people of Chinese ancestry aged 14 to 68 who died from accidental brain injury, finding age-related increases in 48 disease-associated proteins.

Between ages 45 and 55, the most significant shift occurred in the aorta, the body's main artery carrying oxygenated blood from the heart. The team identified one aortic protein that triggers accelerated aging signs when administered to mice. Early aging changes appeared around age 30 in the adrenal gland, which produces various hormones. The study, published in Cell, adds to mounting evidence that aging occurs in waves rather than following a steady progression.



[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02333-z



NRA: Idaho (Score:2)

by Pseudonymous Powers ( 4097097 )

"How did you go bankrupt?" Bill asked.

"Two ways," Mike said. "Gradually and then suddenly."

Re: (Score:2)

by timeOday ( 582209 )

I do believe this. You don't just gradually and smoothly age all the time. Besides cell-level degradation (which I now learn is not constant either) you have a health setback, like an illness / chronic condition, or significant injury, and then never fully recover to whatever level of "youth" you had before.

Re: (Score:3)

by cayenne8 ( 626475 )

From what I can tell...is that your warranty runs out at age 60 for the most part....wow, I mean I wish I'd bought the extended warranty....

Lots of friends going well till early 60's and then BAM, everyone getting hit with health problems.

Well, that's sad... (Score:3)

by Mr. Dollar Ton ( 5495648 )

Whatever comes out of this research will be too late to save most of us slashdotters.

But then, Netcraft did confirm our death decades ago.

As soon as they say "mice" (Score:2)

by blue trane ( 110704 )

Why do I prefer death to using knowledge gained from torturing fellow mortals?

Re: (Score:1)

by Alypius ( 3606369 )

As soon as they say "Chinese" and "accidental" brain injury I wonder the same thing.

Re: (Score:2)

by Brain-Fu ( 1274756 )

The issue is morally complex.

We need the scientific knowledge to save human lives, in potentially very large numbers. If we sit on our hands and just let them die, then we commit a moral sin of inaction.

But the only way to obtain the knowledge involves experimentation that brings suffering and death to a small number of animals. Imposing needless suffering and death on living beings is also a moral sin.

Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't.

The discriminating principle then becomes one of value. Human liv

Life enjoyment (Score:3)

by fluffernutter ( 1411889 )

I just want to enjoy my life the best I can and take what comes.

It's OK (Score:2)

by froggyjojodaddy ( 5025059 )

I self-identify as a perpetual 30 year old so I should be fine.

Re: (Score:2)

by magzteel ( 5013587 )

> I self-identify as a perpetual 30 year old so I should be fine.

Me too! I'm trans-age and age-fluid.

Gee thanks (Score:2)

by necro81 ( 917438 )

As if I needed the reminder.

Aging occurs in stages (Score:3)

by Rosco P. Coltrane ( 209368 )

And yeah, for me, 48 years old was the big downslide. So many small things start going wrong at the same time. And the maddening thing is, you still feel young inside. It's just that you slowly give up on stuff because the body doesn't follow. It's like seeing opportunities disappear and doors closing. Not fun...

Re: (Score:2)

by ZorinLynx ( 31751 )

I'm 48 and holy crap I must agree. My back is hurting on and off, never used to. Foods I used to eat just fine now make me feel bleah and sick to my stomach. I've needed new eyeglass prescriptions four times in the last five years; before I went with the same prescription for a decade.

It's perfectly normal but still scary. It's like suddenly your body goes "Okay I've had enough" and yells at you to take it easier.

I hate it.

Re: (Score:2)

by evil_aaronm ( 671521 )

I'm edging close to 60, and I'm still setting personal records for cycling. I'm not gonna match any of my more youthful running times, though, even if my ankle weren't currently damaged. And, curiously, my eyesight is getter better. The last two years, my prescription has gone toward lesser strength lenses. My eye dr says it happens, but I wonder if at some point I won't need glasses at all. Shrug. I'm pretty sure I'm not Benjamin Button.

Re: (Score:2)

by Tony Isaac ( 1301187 )

Thankfully, lifestyle can have a big impact on the age when this slide starts to occur. At 59, by eating (mostly) healthy and daily bike rides, I've been able to stay healthier than most 50-year-olds. Sure, I feel an occasional twinge of early arthritis, and I've had cataract surgery. But I'm *far* more healthy than my own younger brother. Some of that is genetics, but a lot comes down to how well you take care of yourself.

Well thats encouraging... (Score:3)

by MindPrison ( 864299 )

...for someone wearing C/pap with 80 breath stops an hour. Fun times ahead for me.

Well - accelerated fun living it is then, live it up folks!

Transalation (Score:2)

by Bill, Shooter of Bul ( 629286 )

Slashdotters are old as dirt.

Next story: How to build your digital gravestone with Free software.

"In this replacement Earth we're building they've given me Africa
to do and of course I'm doing it with all fjords again because I happen to
like them, and I'm old-fashioned enough to think that they give a lovely
baroque feel to a continent. And they tell me it's not equatorial enough.
Equatorial!" He gave a hollow laugh. "What does it matter? Science has
achieved some wonderful things, of course, but I'd far rather be happy than
right any day."
"And are you?"
"No. That's where it all falls down, of course."
"Pity," said Arthur with sympathy. "It sounded like quite a good
life-style otherwise."
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