Ageing not such a linear process

Evidence is accumulating that the ageing process is not a steady gradual decline as is widely believed, but after periods of little change in our physiques we undergo spurts of ageing usually at around the ages of 40, 60 and 80.

An initial example comes from people who consume alcohol who, sometimes with a touch of sadness, report that they can no longer “handle” it. After their usual alcoholic foray they feel ill instead enjoying the usual high, and their hangovers are worse. This is because of a relatively sudden decline in the body’s ability to metabolise alcohol.

The age of around 40 also heralds a first spike of muscle wastage and a loss of skin integrity. The risk of developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s also sees a moderate hike.

It is now being increasingly believed that these ageing tipping points are due to accumulated molecular damage that eventually overwhelms the body’s ability to deal with such, as again occurs among peer groups at around the age of 60. Our repair systems become exhausted or swamped and the system slumps into a new state. Another factor that may contribute to the transition at around 40 is changes in lifestyle, for example with people generally taking less exercise. Eating healthily and physical exertion may delay this inevitable deterioration up to a point.

There then follows a quite stable bodily period with the body in its new steady state. At the age of around 60 we also witness relatively swift changes in kidney function and immune system potential. But again, healthy food consumption and sufficient movement can delay or mitigate these phenomena.

The start of old age at around 80 unhappily sees effects such blood stem cells dying off in large numbers, with major shifts in protein levels in our blood plasma. This also seems to have a quite sudden onset at around this fine and goodly age.

The search is on for anti-ageing medication, but such drugs are indeed a long way off, as are genetic interventions that are currently being worked on. So once again, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise  seem to be the message.