Signs of deterioration for some begins by age 26.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Aging — in an intuitive fashion — has long been studied in the elderly, but a new study released Monday revealed various forms of aging can be detected in people as early as their mid-twenties.
The findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ July 6 issue are based on a group of 954 people born in New Zealand in 1972 or 1973, and found that people aged at wildly different rates.
In the individuals who aged the quickest, signs of deterioration were apparent at age 26.
According to CTV News:
Researchers collected data on the subjects’ kidney, liver and lung function, dental health, the blood vessels in the eyes as well as their metabolism and immune system function at age 26, 32 and 38.
They also measured cholesterol, fitness levels and the length of the telomeres, which are the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that have been found to shorten with age.
Those whose bodies were aging faster also “scored worse on tests typically given to people over 60, including tests of balance and coordination and solving unfamiliar problems,” said the study.
Study authors said their findings pave the way for future tests that may be easier and more economical to implement. Their hope is that people can find out how fast they are aging in their 20s, when they might be able to preemptively do something about it and possibly prevent the onset of age-related diseases.
“The important thing about this study, because most studies on aging looked at the elderly, and what this said is in your 20s you need to start to pay attention because you can slow that aging process,” CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus said Wednesday on “CBS This Morning.”