Scientists from China analyzed tissue samples from 76 people aged 14 to 68 who died in an accident. The samples were obtained from organs and tissues that form eight main body systems, including the cardiovascular, digestive, immune, and others. It turned out that the turning point in aging occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, writes Nature.
Around age 50, the most dramatic changes in the expression of disease-related proteins were observed. For example, the most dramatic changes were in the aorta, the body's main artery that delivers oxygenated blood from the heart. When the scientists modeled similar protein changes in mice, they caused them to show signs of accelerated aging.
"It is likely that blood vessels act as a conduit, transporting ageing molecules to distant areas of the body," the authors said. They do not yet understand what exactly triggers the transition to accelerated ageing. However, it is clear that the human body is like a car - some "parts" wear out faster than others.
Other early signs of aging were identified in the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing certain hormones. The findings are consistent with other studies that show that different organs age at different rates. Now it is necessary to study in detail all the mechanisms of aging in tissues in order to create a kind of instruction for creating preventive measures. They can be aimed at specific organs and systems that age first.
In this context, studying changes in proteins does play an important role. For example, other scientists have previously found a protein that restores old bones and muscles.
