Signs of Aging Detected in Young Adults: Some Age Faster Than Normal

If you look old on the outside, you're probably old on the inside. Researchers have taken a close look at a group of younger volunteers to see exactly how old they are biologically.

In this latest study, the scientists examined participants between the ages of 26 to 38. They found that even among young adults, age may differ by many years from their actual chronological age. For example, among 38-year-olds studied, the participants' biological age was found to range from under 30 years old to nearly 60 years old. This means that there were some who were more than 20 years older than their birth certificates indicated.

"This research shows that age-related decline is already happening in young adults who are decades away from developing age-related diseases, and that we can measure it," said Salomon Israel, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The researchers assessed people by studying the functions of their kidneys, liver, lungs, metabolic and immune systems. They also measured HDL, cholesterol, cardiorespiratory fitness, lung function and the length of the telomeres-protective caps at the end of chromosomes that have bene found to shorten with age. The scientists also measured dental health and the condition of the tiny blood vessels at the back of the eyes.

The researchers determined the biological age of the participants based on these parameters. While most participants clustered around an aging rate of one year per year, others aged as fast as three years per chronological year. Others aged at zero years per year, essentially staying younger than their age.

Those who were biologically older at 38 also appeared to have been aging at a faster pace. A biological age of 40, as an example, meant that person was aging at a rate of 1.2 years per year over the 12 years the study examined.

"We set out to measure aging in these relatively young people," said Dan Belsky, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Most studies of aging look at seniors, but if we want to be able to prevent age-related disease, we're going to have to start studying aging in young people."

The findings reveal a bit more about aging and show how aging in young adults could lead to advanced aging in older adults.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Related Stories

Fruits and Vegetables: These Foods Decrease Early Mortality Risk

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).