When Age Comes Crashing Down like a Wave

September 4, 2024 By E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

By Siasart Stock @ Adobe Stock

When it comes to money, Father Time is on your side. Compound interest works better the longer you give it to run its course. But what hurts is your own body aging beneath you. It turns out that aging may not be a “gradual” occurrence, but may instead happen in waves that crash down on you, specifically in your mid-40s and around turning 60. Alex Janin reports in The Wall Street Journal on new research by Stanford scientists published in Nature Aging in August. He writes:

In a study published in the journal Nature Aging in August, a team of Stanford scientists described “waves” of aging, where major biomolecular shifts happen in the body around ages 44 and 60.

The researchers found people in their mid-40s, for example, had meaningful changes in biological markers and pathways related to their abilities to metabolize alcohol and fats. These types of changes can lead to gradual weight gain or greater sensitivity to that nightly glass of wine.

“People assume everybody’s kind of aging gradually,” says Michael Snyder, a professor of genetics at Stanford University and senior author of the study. “It turns out that most changes are not linear.”

It is possible that paying special attention to healthy exercise and eating habits ahead of these waves could help lessen their blows, researchers say. In addition, people age differently, so no one number will be representative of how old or young everyone feels.

The Stanford team analyzed data from repeated collections of blood and stool samples and oral, skin and nasal swabs from 108 healthy people between the ages of 25 and 75. They tracked changes in more than 100,000 molecules and microbes, from proteins and RNA to standard lipid measures such as LDL and HDL over roughly two years and compared results between older and younger people.

Increases or decreases in these markers, some of which were linked to age-related diseases and body changes, created the waves: 81% of the observed molecules changed in at least one wave. It is unclear what exactly is causing these biomolecular shifts, Snyder says, and it is possible that people’s behavior and other variables could have affected the results.

Action Line: As you age, you want to maximize your return from compound interest and minimize the pain of aging. A plan for fitness and a plan for your finances are both necessary. Work hard with a trainer and your doctor on protecting your body and mind, and work with me to find an investment plan that works for you. When you’re ready to make a plan, I’m here. In the meantime, get ahead of our conversation by clicking here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.

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