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Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

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Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#41

It's very likely that aging is driven by some kind of scheduled gene program. It makes perfect sense to phase out individuals from a group-level selection point of view.

Is there convincing evidence for group-level selection in evolution at all? I read enough Dawkins back in the day to be skeptical of such claims.

Yes, it's widely accepted that you have variable proportions of individual vs group level selection depending on circumstances.

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#42

It's very likely that aging is driven by some kind of scheduled gene program. It makes perfect sense to phase out individuals from a group-level selection point of view.

This would be an optimistic scenario and introduce a possibility for the "scheduled gene program" to be controlled or turned off. The current thinking in the field seems to favour the idea that aging is a complex combination of programmed changes, stochastic damage, as well as various adaptations to help cope with the damage.

Menopause is also an obvious planned partial shutdown (vs males who can reproduce when they're 80) and we're no closer to "curing" it, turning it off.

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#43

It's very likely that aging is driven by some kind of scheduled gene program. It makes perfect sense to phase out individuals from a group-level selection point of view.

Life expectancy much longer than 40 is a modern thing for humans though. So where would the over 40s schedule have come from? Or do you mean the schedule basically says: once you hit 50 start falling apart?

Life expectancy in the past was heavily depressed by high child and maternal mortality. For those who survived into adulthood (say, 20), dying in one's 30s or 40s was not the norm. Most lived into at least their 50s, and many reached their 60s or beyond. Hard labor and disease made very old age rarer than today, but old age itself is not a modern phenomenon. Skeletal remains and records confirm its presence throughout history.

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#44
post #11

It's very likely that aging is driven by some kind of scheduled gene program. It makes perfect sense to phase out individuals from a group-level selection point of view.

Maybe. But why in this case do we not see bugs and failures in this program, i.e. no one lived 5 times more than the average or did not live forever at all, for example? I'm not making a statement, just a guess.

Because those will need 5x more time to become adults.

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started weight training at about age 54. I had never done any form of regular exercise in my life. Attempts here and there, but nothing ever stuck for very long. I am stronger now than I ever have been.

I weight trained until having a toddler and a new house at 50. 3 months later and I get up from a chair like I'm 75 and all my joints hurt.

Well start weight training again!

Your toddler needs healthy parents.

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#46

I felt incredibly old from ~36 - 42. Then I started seriously working out, took control of my diet (it had very much always controlled me) and started aggressively pursuing a "better living through chemistry" approach to life. I feel 25 years younger now. My BP and cholesterol are under control and I roll out of bed actually feeling rested (probably due to not snoring anymore).

[deleted]

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#47
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started weight training at about age 54. I had never done any form of regular exercise in my life. Attempts here and there, but nothing ever stuck for very long. I am stronger now than I ever have been.

I’ve been athletic most of my life. At 42 I feel much older than at 32. Chronic injuries add up! Be careful out there everybody

Had a series of injuries from about 25-35, then changed things up due to concerns about aging. Lighter weights, actually following proper training plans/shoes for running, etc. No injuries since and I'm about to hit 50. Aside from raw strength, don't think I feel any different now than at my athletic peak in my early 20s.

Having lived in San Diego most of my life, I've routinely met people in their 60s doing Ironmans. When you're around that enough, it's clear the difference is training smart than simply training hard.

Re: Ageing accelerates around age 50 ― some organs faster than others

#48

I felt incredibly old from ~36 - 42. Then I started seriously working out, took control of my diet (it had very much always controlled me) and started aggressively pursuing a "better living through chemistry" approach to life. I feel 25 years younger now. My BP and cholesterol are under control and I roll out of bed actually feeling rested (probably due to not snoring anymore).

I had a similar experience. It really felt like my body became way more sensitive to my diet in my 40s.

I feel great when I eat clean.

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