Some say that life begins at 40, but there’s no denying that this age is a significant milestone and for some, the first real signs of ageing begin to make an unwelcome appearance. Often, this can be compensated for by a dawning sense of wisdom and inner confidence, but there’s no doubt that certain health challenges can make life more difficult.
Here’s a look at why this is the case, and what can be done to deal with some of the most common health challenges faced by men in their 40s.
Is ageing a gradual linear process?
Ageing was assumed to be a gradual process as nature took its course, with each new year bringing more grey hairs and lines to the face. However, new research suggests that ageing may occur in two significant bursts: at about the age of 44, and again around the age of 60. This may explain why these are common ages for serious health issues to emerge.
The research, published in the journal Nature Aging, was carried out on 108 volunteers, who submitted detailed health data including nasal, hair and skin swabs, stool samples, and blood samples. The participants were tracked over seven years and their molecular information and microbes were analysed by scientists.
The researchers found that contrary to the popular belief that ageing is a gradual process, it tends to occur in more intense bursts in the mid-forties and early sixties. Therefore, men who suddenly find themselves waking up with thinning hair, eye bags and wrinkles sometime around their 44th birthday may not be imagining it.
The study carried out research on men and women, but interestingly the rates of ageing were equal across both sexes. It was previously assumed that women aged faster during these decades due to the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause. However, men in their forties experienced similar levels of ageing.
Prof Michael Snyder, a geneticist and director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University and senior author of the study, explained to The Guardian:“We’re not just changing gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes.”
“It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s – and that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at.”
Dr Xiaotao Shen, a former postdoctoral scholar at Stanford Medical School and first author of the study who is now based at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, added:
“This suggests that while menopause or perimenopause may contribute to the changes observed in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other, more significant factors influencing these changes in both men and women,”
Why do the changes occur at this age?
The team concluded that many of the changes in the 40s were driven by lifestyle factors, while the changes in the 60s were more strongly influenced by metabolism, the immune system, and other biological factors.
Snyder commented: “I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy.” The 40s can be a very demanding time of life for many people, particularly those with children who might be supporting a family and dealing with ageing parents at the same time.
Midlife is also a time when many people, and men in particular, may begin to reflect on their status in life and what they have achieved so far. This can make any concerns around careers or finances feel more acute. Men are often less inclined to open up and discuss their feelings with others and may bottle them up, leading to stress, anxiety and depression.
It can also lead to more unhealthy lifestyle choices that perpetuate the situation, such as an increase in cigarette and alcohol use, longer working hours and less exercise, and a diet that is high in fat, sugar and salt, causing weight gain. These behaviours are not only ageing but increase the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
Another problem that men often face in their forties is hair loss. This may sound trivial compared to other issues arising from ageing, but hair is closely related to our sense of identity, and its loss or thinning can cause a loss of confidence and self-esteem, and even lead to social anxiety and depression.
Male pattern baldness, by far the most common cause of hair loss in men, can be successfully treated with products such as finasteride, the cheaper trade alternative to Propecia.
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