A recent study that identified aging milestones that shows aging is not a smooth process, and a Northern Virginia doctor says physicians and patients can use this knowledge to improve health.
Dr. Angela Hsu, an internist and geriatrician at Kaiser Permanente in Tysons, says most people “had a sense that we don’t age quite linearly” — the aging process speeds up as it goes. But this study, she says, looked at factors such as proteins, cholesterol levels, and inflammation and found “non-linear and dynamic changes.”
Specifically, the study found that the ages of 44 and 60 are aging milestones, big turning points in the aging process, with what Hsu calls “significant dysregulation of all of these markers.”
Aging Milestone of 44
Around 44, two of the biggest changes found were in cardiovascular disease markers and in the way the body metabolizes alcohol. Around 60, they found major changes in immunity and cellular repair, as well as carbohydrate metabolism, which can be associated with obesity and the risk of diabetes.
“It reinforces a lot of things that we’re talking to our patients about and that are already in our primary care practices,” Hsu says.
The study confirms that at the age of 44, or the mid-40s, it’s time to start monitoring more closely for cardiovascular disease factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, “because you are at higher risk” than you feel you’ve always been.
It’s also important to get a handle on how you deal with alcohol, which Hsu says is not as beneficial in small doses as once thought.
“Whereas we used to say that, you know, moderate alcohol use is good for you, you know, we’re learning more and more that that’s probably not the case, and increases your chances of cancer and dementia. So knowing that even as young as 40, your body’s ability to metabolize this toxic substance is changing, I think will really inform some of the lifestyle counseling that we’re giving to our patients.”
Aging Milestone of 60
At 60, it’s time to keep a closer eye on your immune system, and get regular vaccines for the flu, RSV, shingles, and pneumonia. “And it’s really, I think, comforting to know and reassuring to know that those recommendations that we’ve had for a long time also have some molecular basis to support them.”
While it’s true that no two people age exactly the same, Hsu says knowledge is power, and that knowing about specific changes and when they’re likely to happen helps doctors and patients alike with “figuring out what we can do to remain strong and healthy.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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