Ageing accelerates around 50 with blood vessels among first to deteriorate: Study

In light of their findings, the researchers underscored the importance of early and sustained lifestyle interventions to mitigate the effects of biological ageing.

The human body’s ageing process significantly accelerates around the age of 50, with blood vessels emerging as one of the earliest and most vulnerable tissues to show signs of deterioration, according to a comprehensive new study led by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The research, which sought to map the molecular ageing process across multiple tissues, found that substantial biological changes occurred in many organs between the ages of 45 and 55. Using advanced proteomic analysis, the team discovered what they called an “ageing inflection” — a critical shift in the body’s internal ageing clock that appears around the half-century mark.

“Based on aging-associated protein changes, we developed tissue-specific proteomic age clocks and characterised organ-level ageing trajectories,” the researchers wrote. “Temporal analysis revealed an ageing inflection around age 50, with blood vessels being a tissue that ages early and is markedly susceptible to ageing.”

The study analysed 516 samples from 13 distinct human tissues, collected over a five-decade age span. The results revealed substantial remodelling of proteins — the molecular workhorses of the body — particularly after the age of 50. These changes reflect both universal and tissue-specific patterns of ageing, as well as a growing imbalance in proteostasis, the process by which cells maintain protein stability and function.

Importantly, the researchers identified an increase in 48 disease-related proteins that became more prominent with age. These proteins are associated with a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, tissue fibrosis, fatty liver disease, and liver-related tumours. The aorta, one of the body’s largest blood vessels, was found to be particularly prone to ageing-related degeneration.

Earlier studies had already suggested that human ageing accelerates in distinct phases. Some research identified key shifts at around 34 and 60 years, while others proposed inflection points at 44 and 60. The present study, however, places a major biological turning point clearly around age 50, providing fresh insight into the molecular events that precede visible signs of ageing.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers highlighted that different organs and tissues do not age in a uniform manner. Their multi-tissue proteomic atlas aimed to capture these divergent trajectories, offering a high-resolution map of how ageing unfolds across the body.

“The study aims to construct a comprehensive multi-tissue proteomic atlas spanning 50 years of the entire human ageing process, explain the mechanisms behind proteostasis imbalance in aged organs, and reveal both universal and tissue-specific ageing patterns,” the team wrote.

In light of their findings, the researchers underscored the importance of early and sustained lifestyle interventions to mitigate the effects of biological ageing. They recommended regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and stress management as key tools to help maintain health during the ageing process.

“These insights may facilitate the development of targeted interventions for ageing and age-related diseases, paving the way to improve the health of older adults,” the researchers concluded.