Studies have shown three different shifts in aging with critical thresholds at 34, 60, and 78 years.  This implies that aging is a long continuous process that goes through the same pace during our lifetime.

Stanford University researchers find a connection between blood proteins and aging. 

A recent Stanford University study published in Nature Medicine established that you could gauge a person’s age by analyzing blood samples for protein levels. This can help ascertain how human bodies begin to break with age and how age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases can be examined. 

The study findings offer crucial insights into what happens to the body as one ages. For instance, the researchers suggested that the biological aging process is continuing, but it accelerates periodically, and the most extraordinary bursts come at around 34, 60, and 78 years. The results suggest that there is a possibility of devising a blood test to establish individuals aging quickly biologically than others. This means such people could be at risk of osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular problems, and other age-related diseases.

Acceleration of aging comes at 34, 60, and 78 years

Researchers indicated that there are “undulating shifts” in a person’s lifespan and observed changes were due to clusters of proteins moving in different patterns resulting in the emergence of the three aging waves. The Tony Wyss-Coray lab, Stanford School of Medicine researchers studied blood plasma data from 4,263 individuals aged between 18 and 95 years. They analyzed 3,000 different protein levels moving in the biological system and established that 1,379 of the study sample differed according to age. 

Since the proteins remain relatively consistent, the scientists found significant shifts in readings of several proteins in individuals of 34, 60, and 78 years.  However, there is no definitive explanation regarding how this will happen, but if proteins can be traced back to sources, doctors can tell if one is aging faster. 

Past studies have shown that measuring blood protein levels can offer information regarding a person’s health, including lipoproteins for cardiovascular health.