3 Reasons You Age Faster in Your 60s

You do realize that aging is a gradual process that starts the moment you are born and doesn’t really show up until you are in your golden years? Well, not at all.

A large portion of the aging process may not be gradual, according to recent research that was published in the journal Nature Aging. Rather, it happens in two spurts: the first in your mid-40s and the second when you’re 60. According to study from Stanford Medicine, these are the moments when our body’s chemicals and microbes undergo two significant changes that probably have an impact on our health.

Researchers studying individuals in their 60s discovered notable alterations in compounds linked to immunological response, kidney function, metabolism, and even the health of the skin and muscles. Thus, it might not be your imagination if, in your 60s, you wake up feeling a little weaker or wrinkled.

Here are three significant age-related changes that happen in your 60s.

1. The immune system declines

Having colds more frequently? Discovering that minor cuts require time to heal?

The immune system experiences significant aging-related alterations by the age of 60, which the study’s authors describe as “a rapid decline.” These changes eventually lead to immunosenescence, a process of aging-related immunological failure.

This increases your susceptibility to infections, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, among other health problems. Moreover, vaccinations are less effective in individuals over 60 because older adults have less naive T cells, which are the immune system’s first line of defense against emerging viruses like the coronavirus.

Michael Snyder, a senior author on the Nature Aging paper and a genetics professor at Stanford Medicine, states that “your immune system is absolutely critical for preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, basically everything.” “COVID is a prime illustration. The majority of young people recover from COVID-19 without any problems; however, as you age, your immune system weakens and you may become seriously ill.

2. Heart health deteriorates

Your arteries and blood vessels can stiffen around the age of sixty, which makes it difficult for your heart to pump blood through them. The heart’s muscles adapt to the increased workload. Additionally, while normal aging doesn’t significantly alter your resting heart rate, which is the number of heartbeats per minute while at rest, it does cause your heart to beat more slowly when you exert yourself or are under stress. Your risk for hypertension (high blood pressure) and other cardiovascular issues is increased by everything listed above.

Kenneth Koncilja, M.D., a geriatrician at Cleveland Clinic and assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, says that “regular exercise, following a healthy diet and managing your blood pressure when you’re young helps your heart develop resilience so that if something does happen — like stress, a blockage, or you’re taking medicine that causes you to have fluid on your heart — it’s either lessened or you don’t experience symptoms at all.” “Everything about your cardiovascular system will be stronger.”

3. Muscle mass declines

After reaching their peak in your early to mid-30s, muscle mass and strength start to drop – slowly at first, and then more quickly after the age of 60.

According to Koncilja, “the single most critical contributor to loss of independence as we get older” is sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss. “In the last 30 years, we have done a great disservice to our patients in the medical field by putting so much emphasis on cardio and depending so heavily on BMI [body mass index].”

This does not imply that you should stop doing endurance exercises. However, Koncilja asserts that “strength training is very important for everybody.” “In their 80s and 90s, my patients who are physically active have fewer chronic illnesses and are more self-sufficient. While there is currently no cure for dementia and memory issues, exercise has been shown to be one strategy that can decrease the disease’s progression.

Whatever the actual age, there’s a trick to aging well. According to Angela Catic, M.D., associate chief of staff for education at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and associate professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, “it’s maintaining activity— cognitive, physical, and social.” “These are the things we can do to live healthier, longer lives while we learn more about the metabolic processes that may or may not be within our control,” adds Catic.