Scientists have found out why some of us age faster than others

We tend to look at old age as something systemic that comes at once, but in practice the human body is more complex than that. Is it possible to categorize the aging process personally and what does this mean for our continued life? Research searched and found some of the answers

Scientists have found out why some of us age faster than others

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Some people's hearts remain strong and healthy until their 60s, but their kidneys, for example, begin to falter. Others may actually be 30-year-old kidneys, but they fall victim to chronic infections and diseases. Now, scientists are beginning to understand why the aging process changes so drastically between people, and even within one body.

If so far most of the theories of aging did not distinguish between physiological systems and organs, but considered them systemic and uniform, a new study published January 13 in the journal Nature Medicine offers a completely different look.

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The current study divided 43 people into aging categories, or "age-types," based on biological samples collected over two years. Samples included blood, gut bacteria, genetic material, proteins, and by-products of metabolic processes. By monitoring the variability of the samples over time, the team identified about 600 markers of aging - values ​​that predict tissue functioning and primarily assess its "biological age."

So far, the team has identified four different categories related to aging: immune system, kidney, liver and metabolism. Some people fit into one category, but others may meet all four criteria, depending on how their biological systems keep pace with age. "This is an important first step to show how different parts of the body in different people can age at a different rate," scientists explained.

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"More Aging Patterns May Appear"

"It's going to be a lot more than four categories," said Michael Snyder, a professor and chair of the genetics department at Stanford University's California School of Medicine. "For example, some aging research participants seem to be more aggressive in their heart and blood vessels, Gains wear and tear at a higher rate than other areas of their body. If we [surveyed] 1,000 people, I'm sure we will find more people like that and that category will become better defined. "

Different aging patterns. Face of a woman in three stages (Photo: shutterstock)

Woman faces three stages of old age (Photo: ShutterStock)

In the past, scientists were looking for aging markers in large datasets of large populations, Snyder told Live Science. Researchers have pointed to aging markers by comparing young people's data to older people's, but this kind of data captures only a specific moment in time. "It can't reveal how a particular person might change as he gets older," Snyder said.

Build an aging profile

By following specific individuals over time, Snyder and his colleagues hoped to learn how markers of aging differ between individuals. Their study participants ranged in age from 29 to 75 and provided at least five biological samples over two years. Even within a relatively short period of time, some aging patterns emerged.

For example, people belonging to the immune type of aging showed more signs of inflammation over time, while "metabolic aging" accumulated more blood sugar, indicating that their bodies digest glucose more effectively. Similar to personality test scores, the aging profile of each individual included a combination of traits.

Snyder and colleagues plan to follow study participants to see how their aging profiles change over time. They also aim to develop a simple typical age test that can be used by the family physician to quickly assess a patient's health and potentially direct them toward the best treatment options.