If you’ve ever felt like everything in your body is breaking down at once, you’re not far off…

According to Stanford researchers, specific biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s that explain what’s happening to our bodies to make us feel this way.

In other words, instead of gradually aging year over year, we experience significant age-related changes during two specific times in our lives.

Here’s what’s happening and why — and what you might do to lessen the effects…

How and when your body ages the most

Using years of data from 108 people, as well as blood and other biological samples, researchers were able to identify and follow age-related changes in more than 135,000 different molecules and microbes, for a total of nearly 250 billion distinct data points.

This is how they learned that — in more than 80 percent of the molecules in the human body — major changes happen at two distinct periods of life: your mid-40s and your early 60’s.

Specifically, in our 40s, significant changes occur in the number of molecules available to metabolize alcohol, caffeine and fats (think mid-life belly bulge!) — as well as those related to the development of heart trouble.

During this time we also experience a major reduction in molecules that keep our skin and muscles strong and healthy.

Then, when our 60s roll around, changes occur related to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, and an increase in inflammatory markers that weaken the immune system.

So, if you’ve passed 40 or 60 and feel like your best days are behind you — you’re not the only one. But while science is just now figuring out the mechanics of aging, an unsung hero of the nutritional world could help you “feel like” you’ve turned back the clock…

Combat the ‘aging decades’

Back in the 1970s, the amino acid dimethylglycine, called DMG for short, was used by athletes to give them a performance edge. But DMG turned out to be much more than a performance enhancer…

Doctors began getting feedback from patients that it provided relief for chronic joint pain, restored concentration and focus, got their cholesterol and triglyceride levels back in check — and many other age-related symptoms.

That’s when researchers started digging and backing up these claims. They found…

DMG supports heart health. Research from Clemson University showed that DMG supports the heart and blood vessels by slowing the rate of degeneration and supporting oxygen function.

DMG supports immune health. Research in The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine showed that DMG acted as an immune modulator, enhancing the immune system’s ability to respond to foreign invaders by boosting the production of T-cells, B-cells and macrophages to guard against infection.

DMG and cognition. Based on testimonies found in The Townsend Letter, alternative health practitioners from all over have shared that DMG boosts brain function, including memory, cognition and focus.

Overall, it’s involved in at least 41 different processes in your body and is needed by every single cell. Your body can’t create certain hormones, neurotransmitters or even DNA without it.

I could go on and on about DMG’s potential for relieving inflammation, reducing oxidative damage, supporting detoxification and healthy circulation — and more. But I think you get my point by now: It could be a valuable tool in the fight against the ravages of aging.

The body only makes small amounts of DMG. You have to get it from foods like beans, cereal grains, brown rice, pumpkin seeds and liver. But unless you get ample amounts of these foods daily, to get the therapeutic amount your body needs, consider supplementing.

Sources:

Nonlinear dynamics of multi-omics profiles during human aging - Nature Aging

Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s, Stanford Medicine researchers find – EurekAlert!

FAQ: Why Your Body Changes After 40

Does your body really age faster after 40?

Aging doesn’t appear to happen at exactly the same rate throughout life. Researchers tracking thousands of molecules and microbes found especially large biological shifts around the mid-40s and again in the early 60s.

What changes in your body in your 40s?

During the mid-40s, researchers observed significant changes in molecules involved in fat, alcohol and caffeine metabolism, cardiovascular health, and the maintenance of healthy skin and muscle. These changes may help explain why people sometimes notice several seemingly unrelated differences at once during midlife.

Why does metabolism seem to change after 40?

The research found age-related shifts in biological pathways involved in metabolizing fats, alcohol and caffeine during the 40s. That doesn’t mean metabolism suddenly “shuts down,” but it does suggest the body may handle certain nutrients and metabolic demands differently than it did earlier in life.

What happens to the body in your 60s?

Another major wave of biological change appears in the early 60s. Researchers observed changes involving carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, inflammation and other processes related to healthy aging.

What is DMG?

Dimethylglycine, or DMG, is a naturally occurring nutrient involved in numerous processes throughout the body. It participates in cellular methylation and is connected to processes involved in the production of substances such as hormones, neurotransmitters and DNA.

What are the benefits of DMG as you age?

DMG has been studied for its potential role in supporting cardiovascular function, oxygen utilization and immune health. It has also been used nutritionally to support energy, circulation and other aspects of healthy aging.

What foods contain DMG?

DMG occurs naturally in foods including beans, whole grains, brown rice, pumpkin seeds and liver. The body also produces small amounts of DMG on its own.

Can you do anything about age-related changes after 40?

You can’t stop the biological changes that come with aging, but you can support the systems affected by them. Regular exercise, good nutrition and targeted nutritional support can help maintain cardiovascular, metabolic, immune and cellular function as your body’s needs change with age.