Health
Aging speeds up 'massively' at two points in one's lifetime, Stanford study finds: ‘Abrupt changes’
Aging may not be quite as gradual as it seems.
A new study from Stanford University in California has revealed that there are two periods when aging seems to accelerate.
These two spurts tend to occur around age 44 and again at age 60, the study found.
11 TIPS FOR ADULTS AGE 65 AND OVER TO ‘LIVE WELL’ OVER TIME, ACCORDING TO GERONTOLOGISTS
In the study, 108 participants ranging from 25 to 75 years old gave blood and biological samples over the course of several years, according to a Stanford University press release.
A new study from Stanford University in California has revealed that there are two periods when aging seems to accelerate. (iStock)
The researchers analyzed more than 135,000 molecules and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi), finding that most of them don’t change in a “gradual, chronological fashion.”
“We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes,” said Michael Snyder, PhD, professor of genetics and the study’s senior author, in the release.
105-YEAR-OLD WOMAN GRADUATES FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY 83 YEARS AFTER LEAVING CAMPUS: ‘AMAZING’
“It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at.”
The findings were published in the journal Nature Aging last month.
For those in their 60s, age-related changes tend to impact the organs and immune system, according to a doctor. (iStock)
Dr. Brittany Ferri, a New York-based occupational therapist with the National Council on Aging, agreed that aging doesn’t always happen steadily.
“Big changes can happen at certain points in your life,” Ferri, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “People tend to experience shifts that will impact their health going forward.”
“Certain phases will bring noticeable shifts in how the body functions.”
In their 40s, people are likely to face more stress or make lifestyle changes that could affect their well-being, and by the 60s, age-related changes will impact the organs and immune system, according to Ferri.
“With aging happening in distinct stages, certain phases will bring noticeable shifts in how the body functions,” she added.
The aging-health connection
These “abrupt changes” can have an impact on people’s health as they age, the study found.
“During your 40s and 60s, key molecules and microbes related to heart health and the immune system change considerably,” Ferri told Fox News Digital after reviewing the findings.
“In your 40s, changes in molecules that affect how your body processes fats and alcohol could raise your risk of heart disease if they’re not managed well,” she went on.
“In your 60s, shifts in your immune system can make you more prone to age-related health problems.”
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by the shift in the early 60s, as this is a time when age-related diseases and conditions tend to emerge. (iStock)
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by the shift in the early 60s, as this is a time when age-related diseases and conditions tend to emerge.
The surge in the mid-40s, however, was not expected. While they initially thought this shift was due to menopause or perimenopause in women, they realized it was also occurring for men at that age.
MEN’S ENERGY AND VITALITY PLUMMETS FOR 6 REASONS. BOOST IT BACK UP THIS WAY
“This suggests that while menopause or perimenopause may contribute to the changes observed in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other, more significant factors influencing these changes in both men and women,” first author Xiaotao Shen, PhD, a former Stanford Medicine postdoctoral scholar, said in the release.
“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research.”
The researchers emphasized the importance of healthy behaviors, like regular exercise and proper nutrition, to counteract the aging spurts. (iStock)
The main limitation is that these changes could be caused by lifestyle or behavioral factors that tend to emerge in the 40s and 60s, Snyder acknowledged.
Looking ahead, the team plans to conduct further research into these aging spurts.
“I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy.”
They also emphasized the importance of healthy behaviors to counteract these changes.
“That could look like increasing exercise to protect your heart and maintain muscle mass at both ages or decreasing alcohol consumption in your 40s as your ability to metabolize alcohol slows,” the researchers wrote.
For those in their 40s, it’s important to eat healthy, manage stress, and cut back on alcohol to support the changes in metabolism and heart health, a doctor advised. (iStock)
Added Snyder, “I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy.”
For those in their 40s, it’s important to eat healthy, manage stress, and cut back on alcohol to support the changes in metabolism and heart health, according to Ferri.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“In your 60s, try to focus on staying active to help boost your immune system and stay at a healthy weight,” she recommended.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The Stanford study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Stanford Data Science Initiative.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
At 93, sprightly referee Frank Foster is still brandishing red and yellow cards and running the field three times a week for his local soccer association.
Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet, news agency SWNS reported.
Foster puts his remarkable fitness down to the strict wartime rations he was fed as a teenager, noting that it ensured he grew up eating “healthy food” rather than “sweets and cakes.”
FITNESS EXPERT REVEALS 6 PILLARS OF STRENGTH TRAINING THAT OLDER ADULTS SHOULD MASTER
Decades later, his game-day preparation is still fueled by wholesome nutrition, always starting with a morning bowl of oatmeal, cereal or marmalade on toast to give him the energy to last the full 90 minutes.
The meal keeps him active enough to referee men’s, women’s and children’s games, a hobby he jokes he will never blow the final whistle on.
Frank Foster started refereeing in 1980. Today, he still officiates men’s, women’s and children’s games around three times a week. (SWNS)
His sharp mind and authoritative presence on the field are just as strong as his physical endurance.
A military veteran who aced his referee exam in 1980 with a 98% score, Foster relies on old-school discipline to keep matches under control, SWNS reported.
7 COMMON FITNESS MISTAKES OLDER ADULTS MAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM FOR BETTER WORKOUTS
He believes modern elite officials are too “soft” and allow player antics to ruin the sport. To maintain order and keep players from acting out, he lays down strict ground rules before kickoff. He has no patience for intimidation or theatrical diving. “Those who go down like they have been shot, well, I would just book them,” he said.
He is equally uncompromising when squads try to crowd him on the field.
Frank Foster is pictured before he became a referee. (Frank Foster/SWNS)
“I wouldn’t let them surround me at all,” Foster told SWNS.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“I would say to the players, ‘Stay where you are,’ and ‘If you move one more inch, I will give you a yellow card.’ You need to stamp your authority and let them know who is in control.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
He also avoids the modern stress of video-reviewing plays, which he believes creates unnecessary “aggression and disappointment” over microscopic offside calls, adding, “I think it spoils the game.”
Foster credits his longevity to wartime rations, adding that he avoided sweets. (SWNS)
“Sometimes it is only the player’s toe that is offside — it is ridiculous.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Foster says he “never thought” he’d still be doing this at age 93, but he makes the most of that gift.
He keeps his kit freshly washed, making sure it is “neat and tidy” for when he gets on that field.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Foster, of South Yorkshire, England, also scrubs his black Adidas boots after every game, making sure they are “nice and clean” for his next match.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Summer fun in the sun is being taken to a new extreme.
“Tanmaxxing” is a social media trend that involves maximizing sun exposure and tanning the skin more intensely.
Popular among Gen Z, the practice combines time spent in direct sunlight with a variety of tanning products like oils, bronzers and gels.
POPULAR FRUIT MAY HELP PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
Creators on social media are showing off their dramatic tan lines and outdoor set-ups — some even forgoing sun protection or adding tanning bed sessions.
“Tanmaxxing” is trending on social media as a way of maximizing sun exposure. (iStock)
While spending time outdoors can help boost mood, support the body’s production of vitamin D and reduce screen time, dermatologists warn that excessive sun exposure — especially as promoted by the tanmaxxing trend — can be dangerous.
New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michael Tassavor, MD, emphasized that there is “no such thing as a safe, natural tan.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“Tanning is damage,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Tanfluencers sell a deep tan as a ‘wellness upgrade,’ but a tan isn’t a glow-up — it’s your skin’s visible distress signal that DNA damage has already happened.”
“As a skin cancer specialist, I’ve taken care of thousands of skin cancers on patients who ‘tanmaxxed’ before it had a name. Most regret it.”
Using a tanning bed before 35 years old can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, an expert warned. (iStock)
The World Health Organization classifies UV radiation and tanning beds as Group 1 carcinogens, which is the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
Using a tanning bed before age 35 can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, Tassavor noted.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“The damage compounds silently and shows up years later, once the easy window to intervene has closed,” he said.
According to Tassavor, two common beliefs behind tanmaxxing are false: Skipping sunscreen does not produce a “better” tan, and a base tan does not protect the skin from future sunburns.
“Most of your vitamin D can come from diet and supplements, and your skin is efficient enough to top up what it needs from ordinary incidental exposure,” a dermatologist said. (iStock)
Sunlight “isn’t the enemy,” the dermatologist noted, but there’s no need to chase it.
“Most of your vitamin D can come from diet and supplements, and your skin is efficient enough to [get] what it needs from ordinary incidental exposure,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Vitamin D matters for bone density, and sun does give some people a genuine mood lift, but there’s no evidence that anyone has to go out of their way to sunbathe for it, and no evidence that diligent sunscreen use harms bone health.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
To safely expose yourself to the sun, Tassavor recommends using SPF 30 sunscreen and reapplying every two hours. Tanning beds should be avoided “entirely,” he cautioned, because there is “no safe dose” of UV exposure and using them accelerates skin aging.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Great American State Fair was postponed Saturday after multiple people reportedly fainted the day before, forcing thousands of visitors to pivot during celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
Friday’s medical emergencies required onsite attention as crowds flocked to the nation’s capital for Independence Day.
The fair reopened later Friday evening but was postponed again Saturday.
HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES RISING WITH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, RESEARCH SUGGESTS
Fox News Digital asked attendees what it took to get to the capital and what they made of the closure.
“We are so blessed to live in the best country in the world,” Whitney Thomas, a mother from North Carolina who traveled with her family for the Great American State Fair, told Fox News Digital Friday.
An arch across the street from a 110-foot “Freedom 250” Ferris wheel during final preparations for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall June 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Despite the weather closure, she said her family was able to enjoy the State Fair Thursday evening and planned to wait out the heat in nearby museums until the fair reopened.
“I wanted my kids, who are 9 and 10, to be able to experience this with us,” she said.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot.”
Brad Shultis, a retired Marine who traveled from Stafford, Virginia, expressed frustration over the decision to halt festivities.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot,” he told Fox News Digital.
FAMOUS LANDMARKS SLASH VISITING HOURS AS DEADLY HEAT WAVE THREATENS TOURISTS
“It gets hot, and we shut it down because it’s hot? Who cares? If it’s too hot, stay home.”
Shultis noted that he drove to Springfield and took the Metro just to be turned away right after buying lunch. He questioned the decision to shut down the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, arguing that if people find the weather too hot, they should simply stay home or seek medical help rather than forcing a mass evacuation for those who spent time and money to get there.
Whitney Thomas brought her children with her from North Carolina to Washington to experience the historic event as a family. (Fox News Digital)
Wendy Lamb, who traveled eight hours from Connecticut with her family to support the state’s booth, noted that organizers were likely worried about the intense conditions and simply did not want visitors to suffer.
WHAT KILLED AMERICANS IN 1776? THE ANSWER IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT FROM TODAY
While disappointed that her home state did not send official representation due to budget issues, Lamb and her fellow travelers refused to let the heat ruin their first trip to Washington, D.C.
“We’ve had a really, really fun time so far,” added John, another member of the group.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
He said they plan to navigate the heat by moving from museum to museum and using the Metro system to stay cool until the gates reopen.
For these visitors, the setback was minor compared to the emotional weight of seeing the U.S. Capitol and the Rotunda.
Judy drove with her family from Connecticut to support the state after officials withdrew support prior to the fair opening. (Fox News Digital)
“I mean, we are so fortunate we are free, and yet we have people out there that hate our country. … it’s very emotional,” said Pat Lamb, who fanned her face to stop tears welling in her eyes as she described the pride she felt for the nation.
The decision to close the fairgrounds aligns with severe weather protocols designed to prevent mass casualty medical events.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme heat can quickly impair the body’s ability to cool itself, causing internal temperatures to rise faster than they can dissipate.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
When exposure to extreme conditions triggers a heat-related illness, symptoms can escalate rapidly from heat exhaustion — marked by heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea and fainting — to a life-threatening medical emergency, according to the CDC.
Brad Shultis, a veteran, was turned away just after lunch due to extreme heat at The Great American State Fair. (Fox News Digital)
The most severe risk is heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s cooling mechanism fails entirely, potentially driving core body temperatures to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within minutes.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
To prevent severe complications like permanent organ damage or death, the CDC advises that anyone exhibiting warning signs such as confusion, slurred speech or a loss of consciousness should receive immediate medical treatment.
Public health officials urge individuals in high-heat environments to seek shade, stay heavily hydrated and identify air-conditioned cooling centers.
-
New York1 hour agoHow a Museum Security Guard and Artist Lives on $51,000 in Parkchester
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoHeat advisory issued as Southern California temps near triple digits this week
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit Battery Safety Provider Reaches to the Skies with Med Hawk
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoA Locals-Approved Modern Guide to Fisherman’s Wharf: Seafood, Beer Gardens + Iconic Bay Views
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoNew glitzy Houston steakhouse Juliet opens next to Delilah this summer
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoAllapattah man faces charges over armed robbery after crash in Miami’s Liberty City
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoSomehow, This is a Fitting, Confusing End to Jaylen Brown’s Boston Celtics Career
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver Broncos 2026 schedule
