The two peaks in ageing are at 44 and 60
Also, mysterious diseases spread by insects (mainly mosquitoes) are on the rise
Hi!
How have you been?
I want to share an interesting new study on ageing that challenges the idea that we age at a steady pace.
We don’t age in a straight line. Instead, ageing follows a roller-coaster path, with two major waves.
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, I started feeling more tired, and my hair greyed faster. Was it stress or natural ageing? There’s no way to know, but a study now reveals significant biological shifts at ages 44 and 60 corresponding to what I would’ve experienced at the first ageing peak during COVID-19.
According to Michael Snyder from Stanford University, ageing comes in waves, with major changes around the mid-40s and 60. Published in Nature Aging on August 14, the study tracked 135,000 molecules and microbes from participants aged 25 to 75, examining changes in RNA, proteins, and metabolites.
The findings were striking. The most dramatic shifts in biological markers occurred around 44 and 60, suggesting that ageing accelerates at these points.
In the mid-40s, both men and women showed changes, such as how they metabolize alcohol, caffeine, and fats, along with heart, skin, and muscle functions.
At 60, the body’s regulation of immunity, carbohydrate processing, and kidney function changed, increasing the risk for diseases like Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular issues.
While comprehensive, the study had limits. It involved only 108 participants, so it may not represent all backgrounds and lifestyles. It also didn’t include those under 25 or over 75. Still, the findings offer valuable insights into ageing.
As I write in my column this week —
Despite these limitations, the findings are valuable. No experiment can capture all the factors of ageing in every individual. Researchers need to choose between testing many people for a few things or fewer people for many things. In this case, understandably, they chose the latter.
Age may simply be a number, but ageing is more than the calculation of how many years a person has lived on this planet. To understand ageing, we need to look at the concept of biological age. Someone who leads a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet would probably have a biological age younger than their actual years. On the other hand, chronic stress, heavy drinking or smoking, or illness might make someone older biologically than their chronological age.
In short, reader, your personal ageing experience may vary from the study’s conclusions. However, the broader idea that ageing may occur in peaks is sound.
With this knowledge, what can we do about ageing? Ageing is inevitable and natural, but lifestyle adjustments at critical times can help keep us healthy. Snyder offers sound advice that we would do well to follow: “I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy.”
Mysterious diseases spread by insects (mainly mosquitoes) are on the rise
Yes, you heard right. Mysterious deadly viruses spread by mosquitoes are on the rise.
Climate change is contributing to the increase in viral diseases spread by insects. It's extending mosquito seasons and expanding their habitats.
Dengue fever cases have soared to over 11 million globally this year, nearly twice as many as last year. In eastern India, several people I know have contracted dengue for the first time.
Have you heard of Chandipura or Oropouche before? These insect-spread viruses are now in the news in the same way that Zika and Chikungunya were years ago when they became global health crises. This year, alarming spikes in Chandipura and Oropouche are taking different parts of the world by storm.
Chandipura virus, found in India and most harmful to children, is experiencing its biggest outbreak in twenty years. Oropouche virus, usually seen in South America’s Amazon basin, is now spreading across wider areas of South America and has even shown up in unexpected places like Cuba. Both viruses are deadly.
Let's start with Chandipura. The virus is endemic across India's western, central, and southern regions. Chandipura virus causes acute encephalitis syndrome, which can quickly progress from fever and malaise to severe neurological symptoms like seizures and coma, often within days.
What’s most concerning is that it has a fatality rate as high as 56-75% in recent outbreaks. The latest outbreak has been particularly severe, with 245 reported acute encephalitis syndrome cases and 82 deaths, primarily in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Outbreaks, which typically occur every four to five years, often coincide with the monsoon season, providing ideal conditions for the virus's vectors (not just mosquitoes, but also sandflies and ticks).
The rapid progression of symptoms and high death rate make Chandipura worrying. In response, the Indian ministry of health and family welfare has ramped up efforts to control and contain its spread. These efforts include intensified vector control measures like insecticidal spraying, public education on preventive practices, and enhanced surveillance to quickly detect and respond to cases. This proactive approach is necessary because there’s no treatment or vaccine for the virus.
Let's shift focus to the Oropouche virus, first identified in 1955 in Oropouche, Trinidad and Tobago. Although it caused outbreaks in the Amazon region in the past, it never drew much global attention. This lack of focus is partly because it didn’t spread widely. The hosts in the forest included animals like pale-throated sloths and non-human primates. Insect vectors include midges and possibly Culex mosquitoes.
This year, the virus has significantly expanded, affecting over 8,000 people across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, and even reaching Cuba for the first time. Oropouche virus is spreading to urban areas, suggesting it might start a cycle where humans amplify its spread, much like Zika. Oropouche fever symptoms are typically mild, including headaches, fever, muscle, and joint pains. These symptoms are similar to those of dengue or Zika. But alarmingly, it has caused its first recorded deaths, involving two young women in Brazil. Like Chandipura, there are no treatments or vaccines for Oropouche either.
As travel increases post-pandemic, there's concern that Oropouche virus could spread internationally. US travelers returning from affected areas have already alerted health authorities. More research and better preparedness are crucial to prevent Oropouche from becoming another Zika.
Chandipura and Oropouche viruses may not be well-known, but we should be vigilant. Consider Chikungunya: first detected in Tanzania in 1952, it was relatively unknown in India until it reemerged and caused a major outbreak in 2006. The Aedes mosquitoes, which also transmit dengue and Zika, facilitated its spread.
That’s it for this week.