When exactly does aging begin?
A major study involving more than 4,000 people has uncovered the biological turning point where our bodies begin to show signs of internal decline.
Here are the most important indicators that aging is already underway.
DNA loses its repair ability
One major reason for aging is the body’s declining capacity to repair its DNA.
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As this ability fades, cellular structures break down, leading to signs of aging across the body.
Metabolism slows significantly
One of the first noticeable changes is a slower metabolism.
The body becomes less efficient at burning calories and processing energy, leading to fatigue and weight gain.
Bones become more fragile
As the body ages, bone density decreases, increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis – a condition that makes bones brittle and weak.
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Memory becomes less reliable
Gradually, remembering details and learning new things becomes more difficult. This cognitive slowdown is a common and early symptom of aging.
Sleep patterns are disrupted
Older adults often experience changes in their sleep, including lighter sleep and more frequent waking during the night.
Vision and hearing start to decline
The senses are among the first to show signs of aging. Vision weakens and hearing becomes less sharp, making it harder to respond to the world around you.
Muscle mass starts disappearing
Known as sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass reduces strength and endurance. This decline accelerates as people move through the aging stages.
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Skin shows visible aging
Wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots start to appear as the skin loses elasticity and its ability to regenerate. The skin becomes drier and thinner over time.
Movement slows down
With age, everything from walking speed to reaction time decreases. The body becomes slower, and tasks that once felt effortless may take more time and energy.
Your biological clock speeds up after age 34
Scientists from Stanford University discovered that the aging process begins around the age of 34, when the body starts showing noticeable changes in its internal makeup.
Proteins reveal your true age
By analyzing the blood plasma of thousands of individuals, researchers identified 1,379 proteins that vary with age.
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Amazingly, just 373 of them were enough to accurately predict a person’s biological age.
The body ages in three distinct phases
Aging was divided into three stages: ages 34–60 (adulthood), 60–78 (late maturity), and 78+ (old age).
In each stage, physical deterioration becomes more noticeable and protein production decreases.
This article is based on information from M.corrieredellosport.it.
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