Scientists discover the brain’s three ageing ‘waves’…and it starts before the age of 60
Whether you’re turning 60, 70 or 80, everyone starts to feel ‘old’ at very different times.
But our brains go through three distinct ‘ageing peaks’ throughout our lives, according to a new study.
Experts have identified that levels of 13 proteins linked to brain ageing spike at 57, 70 and 78.
And this could mean these particular ages are crucial for interventions to help keep the brain healthier for longer, they said.
The team analysed the concentration of around 3,000 proteins in the blood plasma of nearly 5,000 British people aged between 45 and 82.
Analysis revealed that 13 proteins strongly linked with brain ageing were found to form three age-related peaks at 57, 70 and 78-years-old.
One protein in particular, called Brevican (BCAN), is associated with the onset of dementia, stroke and movement issues.
Another protein, called GDF15, has also been linked to age-related diseases.
Experts have identified that levels of 13 proteins linked to brain aging spike at 57, 70 and 78
Experts warned that by 2050, it is estimated that the number of people aged 65 years and above will exceed 1.5 billion globally – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the aging process. Stock image
The authors said that the peaks in these 13 proteins may reflect changes in human brain health at these specific ages.
And these could be important times to consider interventions in the brain ageing process, they said, that could help delay the onset of diseases such as dementia.
The research was led by a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China.
Writing in the journal Nature Ageing they warned that by 2050, it is estimated that the number of people aged 65 years and above will exceed 1.5 billion globally – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the ageing process.
‘We found that the late fifth decade is a potential onset timepoint for brain ageing,’ they said.
‘In addition, our study suggested that the seventh and late seventh decades are also essential time points in brain ageing.
‘These findings contribute to bridging essential knowledge gaps in clarifying the molecular mechanisms of brain aging, with substantial implications for the future development of…biomarkers for brain aging, as well as personalised therapeutic targets for subsequent age-related brain disorders.’
