cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18671978
If you have noticed a sudden accumulation of wrinkles, aches and pains or a general sensation of having grown older almost overnight, there may be a scientific explanation. Research suggests that rather than being a slow and steady process, aging occurs in at least two accelerated bursts.
The study, which tracked thousands of different molecules in people aged 25 to 75, detected two major waves of age-related changes at around ages 44 and again at 60. The findings could explain why spikes in certain health issues including musculoskeletal problems and cardiovascular disease occur at certain ages.
“We’re not just changing gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes,” said Prof Michael Snyder, a geneticist and director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University and senior author of the study.
“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.”
…
I actually think aging is really beautiful. I mean there is an element that is sad. Especially if you were a particularly youthful looking individual. But on the other hand, if people stayed the same they would look unnatural. Which I think is sort of the case for most celebrities outside of that one guy…Paul Rudd. I think he’s doing fine. But I look at people like Brad Pitt and I just see the living embodiment of a spoiled individual. Besides which, superficial things are so bogus because they are aimed exclusively towards youth. And a certain image of youth at that. And when you don’t make the grade your entire life quality typically suffers because of it.
Now I do have to pull out a little something and wonder if this is split across the ethnicities. But I think at the end of the day I heard something like collagen being what makes “black don’t crack” and hot Asian grandmas like Tsai Chin ;D! But I have also always wondered if it’s the joy you carry in your heart. Because if you take challenges on as part of the experience of life, instead of the burden of existence I think you age more gracefully. And have seen it working with the elderly over the years. And in my own grandparents, health pending. But the ones who either laughed, or went about things with conscious intentions (I’m thinking about a very quite but hyper intelligent Slavic grandma I once helped who invited me to her place for tea. It was incredibly well cared for and she was clearly a very well read individual with what I’d consider all her faculties. But she was for sure not a “lively” or “cheerful” individual.) even if it’s rage. Just being active in your body and mind to some extent seems to slow the aging process down greatly. What seems to speed it up in my book? Being forgotten and television.
One thing I think about often is how different our world has changed since I have been alive. And I am sure others can echo the sentiment all the way up to our oldest and youngest lot. But by that I mean we’ve seen such sweeping waves from group activities to solitary ones. Outdoors movement, towards indoors. Social niceties towards calm-socialization (as in keeping it in the “family”). I wonder what all of this is doing to us as a whole. Because I am for sure far sicker than my parents, and perhaps to an extent most of my grandparents. But I will also say I am more honest about what’s going on with my body, inside and out, than any of them ever were too.
Hmm. Just has me have a think.
But either way, aging is lovely even with the aches and pains because it means I am still here and I love that. I love being able to still be spinning here =)!