We’ve all heard the saying, “age ain’t nothing but a number,” but is it true? It turns out, it is — to an extent.
Stanford scientists noticed that, just like people, mice they were studying could be the same age but perform much differently. They found some could pass cognitive tests and race around their exercise wheels but others couldn’t remember a simple task or struggled to get around.
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To get answers, the scientists turned to a new area of research: organ aging.
Organ aging looks at how different parts of the body seem to start aging earlier than others. Scientists say this can determine the diseases one may develop or how long they could live.
For a long time, the belief was as people aged, everything in their body aged along with them in a steady, predictable way. However, aging starts in different parts of the body at different times.
While the timeline is unique for everyone, scientists suggest that understanding how an individual’s organs age could potentially allow us to slow down the aging process. Researchers can use molecular biology, genetics and blood samples to figure it out.
For example, some people are what’s known as “brain agers.” That means their brain is relatively older than other organs in the body. Others are “heart agers,” meaning their hearts appear much older than the rest of their body.
Scientists say almost any organ can be the first to show signs of extreme aging. They say they still haven’t figured out why people’s organs age at different rates but they have found lifestyle can play a big role.
Stanford researchers found people who smoked, drank alcohol and ate processed meats often were more likely to experience accelerated organ aging. Those who exercised regularly and ate a healthier diet had more youthful organs.
While there’s no guarantee, scientists said knowing how organs age could help guide some health decisions for the better.
