Mar 21, 2026
3 min read
In an article published in the journal Cell, a group of Chinese scientists analyzed the proteins in the human body at different ages.Analyzing the components, they found that at the age of 50, cells and organs begin to age
We grow rapidly, go through a phase of stability in adulthood, and begin to age around the age of fifty.According to a scientific study published in 2025in the journal Cell and conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this is the tipping point where the aging process in humans accelerates.Analyzing the proteins in the human body of different age groups, scientists noticed rapid degradation of tissues and organs.Veins are also among the fastest aging components.
We read in the paper: "Based on age-related protein changes, we identified a specific proteomic clock specific to tissue and organ aging processes".He continued: "Interim studies have shown a reversal of age around 50. Blood vessels are a type of tissue that ages prematurely and is susceptible to aging."
Compared to other mammals, humans have apparently had a longer lifespan.However, it also carries risks such as deterioration of organ function and the possibility of contracting chronic diseases.The choice to study changes in proteins in organs over time is due to the fact that the aging process of each individual organ is not yet fully understood.
Sample collection, analysis and results: how research is done
For the study, blood and tissue samples were collected from 76 organ donors aged 14 to 68 who died of sudden head trauma.516 samples were analyzed - from 13 different tissues - covering seven body systems: cardiovascular (heart and aorta), digestive (liver, pancreas and intestines), immune (spleen and lymphatics).nodes), endocrine (adrenal glands and white adipose tissue), respiratory (breathing) muscles (muscles).
The experts then recorded the proteins present in each system, paying close attention to how their levels differed with the donors' age." We saw proteins enriched and refined in specific tissues - writes the team - as well as those common to all tissues, which are important for basic biological functions".
These include cardiovascular disease, tissue fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, and liver tumors. The most significant changes are observed between the ages of 45 and 55. In this range, many tissues undergo significant protein reorganization, with the most significant changes occurring at the level of the aorta, showing a certain sensitivity to aging.The spleen also shows constant changes, as does the pancreas, the stomach organ that produces the enzymes and hormones needed to break down and absorb nutrients in food.
To verify the results, the researchers isolated an aging-associated protein found in the aorta of mice and injected it into young samples to observe the effects.The treated animals showed reduced physical performance, with lower grip strength, less endurance, and poorer balance and coordination compared to untreated mice.Clear markers of vascular aging also emerged.Muscle strength, especially hand grip strength, affects your ability to cope with age-related diseases and injuries, and Finnish research from 2024 suggests that genetic factors affecting it may play a role in healthy aging.
Comparison with other studies and the hope of improving the health of the elderly
Chinese is not the first scientific attempt to explain human aging.Previous studies by an American group have identified two other levels, around age 44 and then again at age 60: early changes in molecules related to the metabolism of lipids, caffeine, and alcohol, as well as a link between heart disease and skin and muscle changes;Second, however, differences are associated with carbohydrate, metabolism, cardiovascular, skin, muscle, immune regulation, and kidney function.
"Our research," the scientist explained, "is aimed at creating a comprehensive multi-tissue proteomic atlas covering 50 years of the entire human aging process, clarifying the mechanisms underlying proteostasis imbalance in aging organs and revealing general and tissue-specific patterns of aging."
