A new study has found that men and women experience major biological changes at different stages of life, suggesting that the aging process follows distinct timelines between the sexes.
Researchers analyzed health data from more than 104,000 adults aged 18 to 98 across China. They examined 172 health measurements, including body weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and other metabolic indicators, to identify major turning points in biological aging.
The researchers found that men experienced a major aging transition between ages 35 and 45. During this period, metabolic changes became more noticeable, including increases in body mass index, triglycerides and cholesterol.
For women, the most significant changes occurred later, between ages 55 and 65, around the period of menopause. Researchers observed major hormonal changes along with increases in body fat and cholesterol levels.
The study also identified several substances associated with faster biological aging, including glucose, lipids and uric acid. Laboratory experiments suggested that higher levels of these substances may contribute to cellular aging.
Researchers said the findings could help improve sex-specific approaches to healthy aging, allowing prevention and health interventions to be better tailored to different stages of life.
The study was published in Nature Aging and involved researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China National Center for Bioinformation, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University and other institutions.
