A study shows that aging does not proceed at a uniform speed, but accelerates significantly around the age of 50. A tissue analysis of people aged 14 to 68 years found that the aging process of many organs is significantly accelerated during this stage, with the aging rate of blood vessels (especially the aorta) being particularly prominent. The research was led by a team from the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the results were published in the magazine Cell.
Researchers analyzed organ samples from 76 Chinese people who died from accidental brain injuries, covering eight major systems including cardiovascular, immune and digestive systems. The results showed that early changes in protein expression in the adrenal gland (an organ responsible for producing a variety of hormones) occurred around the age of 30, and that protein levels fluctuated dramatically between the ages of 45 and 55, marking the arrival of a turning point in aging. The most dramatic changes occurred in the aorta, where a certain protein produced by the aorta even triggered accelerated aging in mouse experiments. The research team speculated that blood vessels may affect the whole body by transporting pro-aging molecules.
Previous research from Stanford University in the United States has pointed out that the age of 44 and 60 is the key node of aging. Scholars from the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany believe that the differences in the results of different studies may stem from differences in samples and methods. But the consensus is that aging shows a phased acceleration rather than a linear progression.
Scientists emphasize that understanding differences in organ aging can help target interventions. With the optimization of research methods, the mechanism that triggers the turning point of aging may be revealed in the future, providing a new direction for delaying aging. This area is becoming a research hotspot, and more data are expected to emerge in the coming years.