If you're 44 and over, did you notice?

[Aloe Vera]

I read an article this morning that said scientific research came to the conclusion that our body actually ages dramatically at specific ages:  44, 60 and 78.
If you want to read it: www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/14/scientists-find-humans-age-dramatically-in-two-bursts-at-44-then-60-aging-not-slow-and-steady

Did you notice significant aging at 44?

[underwaterrhymes]

My vision for sure. Like, it was super drastic.

I definitely have more aches and pains at 49, but I didn’t notice a huge shift at 44.

[HRH Queen Dick I]

Get outta here.

[sunshineluv]

Oh boy. I didnt read it yet but I will. I am 44 and the past month I have had a lot of mental struggles dealing with my age. I feel my hormones may be out of wack, I feel like my face aged overnight. My back hurts more easily, I could go on.

[followyourarrow]

I just turned 45. I didn't notice anything, but I'm finally taking care of my health, so I actually feel better. My vision declined in my early 40's and I got type 2 diabetes in my early 40's, but nothing specific at 44.

[dexteroni]

Oh yes. I don’t know if it was 44, I’d say for me it was more like 46-47, but I noticed a big decline. It’s when I started to feel middle aged.

[onomatopoeia]

I'm 47 and between 42-44 was when I noticed things started to fall apart. Joints, skin, hair, body composition, etc. I remember being so sure I'd cruise into middle age slowly then BAM. I'm trying to embrace it as just another life stage but man, it takes a lot more work to feel and look good now lol.

[gretchenindisguise]

I noticed this at 40. It as like bam! No more wine for you! Heart burn for you! Welcome to middle age dummy.

[erbear]

Not exactly at 44 but I have noticed my general health declining in the last 3-4 years (I'm 46). I gain weight easily. My stomach hurts all the time. I have been to the ER twice with chest pains (I have a history of heart issues and pulmonary embolisms). I can't see for shit. I can't hear as well. It's been sucky, honestly. I never feel good anymore.

[pixy0stix]

No - but halfway through my 44th year I injured my ankle pretty severely and it threw that entire year out of whack. I have felt older since then.

[1yeartogo]

41 here, gained tons of weight for really no reason in my stomach. Must be age.

[Susie]

H is 45 now, and he had a year where it felt like he aged a ton overnight.  It wasn't right at 44, but it was close.  Maybe 43?

In the space of about a year he had:

- vascular surgery on his right leg because of vein problems
- vascular surgery on his left leg because of vein problems
- repeat vascular surgery one one of the legs, I forget which, because the first one failed
- a detached retina and eye surgery and tons of follow up for that
- got rocky mountain spotted fever from a random tick bite (ok so this one's a fluke)
- modest weight gain, if any, but a major change in how he was carrying his weight, and probably metabolism.  Significant loss of muscle and increase in belly fat.
- gave himself plantar fasciitis just walking around (no running or sports involved)

I feel like there was other stuff too, I've just blocked it out.  There was an outpatient surgical procedure for a cyst and a few other things.

It definitely sucked for both him, and for me as well, because I suddenly had a 2-3 year old, a 5-6 year old, and what felt like a 60+ year old to take care of all at once.  

He has since gotten his head around, living like that is no fun, so he's paying a bit more attention to his health.  There was definitely a shift though, where the things he used to be able to do and get away with (unsupportive shoes, eating without consequence), don't work anymore.

[eb777888]

I just turned 47 last week. I feel 45 was the real turning point for me. It's all downhill from here, lol.

[eddy]

Oh man I turn 43 in a month and I shouldn't have ready this lololol.

I still feel really great. Certainly a little slow down. And recovery from workouts or just anything out my routine is harder. I will try to stay aware if I notice a big jump in the next couple years. 

[mcsangel2]

A lot of what is being posted here is almost certainly all related to loss of estrogen/perimenopause. I joined the menopause subreddit a few months ago, and my eyes are opened. I now think my Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome is also caused by menopause (started 4 months after my last period 2+ years ago).

I'm at the beginning of a quest to get vaginal estrogen (very safe, stays localized) and hopefully topical estrogen of some sort (difficult with my medical history), which is much safer than oral tablets. The Women's Health Initiative study from 2002 wound up shafting a TON of women who's quality of life could have been much improved by HRT. I have learned SO MUCH from that subreddit, there are links to studies and other kinds of info for anyone interested. I have been shocked to learn how many things estrogen effects.

As to the original question, 44 (8 years ago) is just about the age I was when I started having a lot of trouble concentrating at work. I've been at the same job since 2001 and I just chalked it up to boredome/being in a rut. I don't think that now.

[rubytue]

Susie, wow, Rocky Mountain spotted fever? As a kid I was terrified of that.

I was 44 when I got cancer a second time. So, yeah… but since then, I have been paying a lot more attention to things I should do. Like not have a bagel with crea, cheese for breakfast every day lol But I now exercise because I should, things like that.

[litebright]

I saw this article. I don't think I've hit the downturn yet. I turn 47 in October. In the last 18 months, I've done an exercise-and-eating program that helped me overhaul a lot of my habits, I'm exercising consistently for the first time in my life, and I dropped 20 pounds/got stronger. I have not been at this level of fitness for a very long time.

It's not all roses and I'm still getting older -- my neck is starting to wrinkle, I have a few grays and I can tell that bifocals are probably in the not-too-distant future. Alcohol makes me feel noticeably worse; I drink way, WAY less than even just a few years ago.

But overall, TBH, I feel like my health has taken a turn for the much-better in the past couple of years rather than the opposite.

Know what DID make me feel middle-aged? Scheduling and getting a colonoscopy.

[jinkies]

I had a drastic decline at 42, but honestly that was in 2020, and it was 100% the stress in combination with my age. I was expecting things to improve as the stress of the pandemic lessened, but I think that's where my age made it hard to bounce back.

I'm now 46 and definitely feel middle aged.

[minzy]

I am 44 now and feeling it. My twin got her first readers on our 44th birthday. I am still holding out. I am tired all the time but that’s because I have about a 5.5 hour sleep cycle and run full speed all the time (full time job, extensive volunteer commitments, parenting, life) and then kind of crash. Working out in the morning especially makes me really want to nap. I have gained about ten pounds in the last two years (which correlates with having to return to the office a few days a week as it usually involves at least 3 hrs commuting on any given day “in”) and I have lost some physical flexibility. I know I need to do yoga and lift but I often feel like I just can’t do it all. My most recent stress is with my father being sick and my living with them a lot of the time, several hours away from my own home, which basically means I feel like I’m not doing enough at all times. But I’m still able to do the important stuff and just have to compromise with the rest for now. Whee, 44. 🤣

[rosiebear]

Not really, but then again I was newly married at 43 and probably in an especially positive mental state.

I’m now 57 and I have really noticed a decline in my muscles and skeletal condition. I cannot stand up straight in the morning and I need to take ibuprofen in order to even approximate a straight posture.

I am working on more functional fitness in order to stave off as much of the decline as I can. My husband is 64 now and has gained weight that he is now trying to lose.

[abs]

Oh boy. Absolutely yes. Not right at 44 but like 42?

Thyroid became harder to manage. Aches and pains harder to shake off. Vision deteriorated basically overnight. Hair loss accelerated quickly. No longer can sleep in. Tinnitus (which uncovered a benign tumor).

Yes a lot is probably perimenopause related.

ETA: oh and most days I feel like a complete idiot because word recall is hard.

[jinkies]

Aug 15, 2024 9:55:10 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

A lot of what is being posted here is almost certainly all related to loss of estrogen/perimenopause. I joined the menopause subreddit a few months ago, and my eyes are opened. I now think my Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome is also caused by menopause (started 4 months after my last period 2+ years ago).

I'm at the beginning of a quest to get vaginal estrogen (very safe, stays localized) and hopefully topical estrogen of some sort (difficult with my medical history), which is much safer than oral tablets. The Women's Health Initiative study from 2002 wound up shafting a TON of women who's quality of life could have been much improved by HRT. I have learned SO MUCH from that subreddit, there are links to studies and other kinds of info for anyone interested. I have been shocked to learn how many things estrogen effects.

As to the original question, 44 (8 years ago) is just about the age I was when I started having a lot of trouble concentrating at work. I've been at the same job since 2001 and I just chalked it up to boredome/being in a rut. I don't think that now.

I agree with this also. I had to change OB/Gyn this year and tried to broach perimenopause as a cause of a lot of symptoms I've had the past few years. I was really disappointed by how dismissive she was-- she basically told me that I could try some over the counter supplements, but otherwise she didn't think my symptoms were likely to be perimenopause and I should talk to my PCP about them (despite them all being classic perimenopause symptoms-- serious brain fog, hair loss, weight gain, etc). 

I really thought she would listen since she was a 50-something woman herself, and was so disappointed to be dismissed. It's so daunting to try to find a doctor to take women's health seriously.

[Jalapeñomel]

No.

My vision was shot with my last baby, but otherwise, I don’t feel any older than I did at 40.

I read somewhere that having babies late keep you younger longer, so I’m holding on to that hard.

[macmars45]

Susie my H is 39 (will be 40 in a few months) and in the last 6 months has finally started wearing better shoes, moving his body on a regular basis and eating better. He gained 20 lbs in 2 years and that was his wake up call. He can't just magically stay at a healthy weight anymore. Welcome to my world H.

He also went back to therapy.

[eb777888]

Aug 15, 2024 9:43:26 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

I just turned 47 last week. I feel 45 was the real turning point for me. It's all downhill from here, lol.

Oh after reading the rest of the replies, I'm talking skin/hair stuff, putting on weight, etc. Health wise, I still feel great, don't suffer any joint/back pain, energy levels are okay and mood is good as long as I eat right, exercise, don't drink too much, etc. The downturn in health stuff for me is all stomach/diet related. I used to have an iron stomach, but now I can't eat much spicy food, can only eat very little amounts cheese, absolutely no milk/cream. Fried food makes me feel like shit, can only have one glass of red wine, etc. I'm also having to work really hard to retain muscle so started lifting weights again. I've been doing Pilates for 7 years and that has helped me immensely. I've said before I don't see it as much as a way to stay in shape. but more physical therapy. 

eta: Oh, and heartburn! I used to only get that very rarely, but now if I eat certain foods, I get it immediately! Again, stomach related, lol. 

[liverandonions]

Yes 100%. 44 this year and I'm exhausted all the time, and my eyesight is shit. Also, i'm the heaviest i've ever been - part of that is likely my thyroid, but it's been fairly level for years until now.     

[heyyounotyouyou]

Nope. I’m 52 next month and still feel great. I find I can’t do more then 3 days in a row of a hard workout without giving my body a break, but other then that I mentally still think I’m in my 30’s. I’m sure not having children has a huge impact on that.

[doctoranda]

44 for me was during the Pandemic and I think I was too distracted. Vission def declined that year. However, the last couple of years I have noticed more fatigue, less muscle strength, need readers occassionally.

[gummybear]

It was probably around there that my vision went and I felt my face began to really age. I also had a pretty serious Achilles injury which as extremely depressing. To be fair, I turned 44 in 2021 which as coming off the pandemic so all of that *waves hands around* was probably a contributing factor. Around 45/46 I felt the weight gain kick in. As far as general aches and pains, I've been very physically active my entire adult life (including lifting) so I think that I've managed to stave off some of the bodily degeneration that occurs (but I'm still young so it could happen).

I do feel this article has a lot of truth to it. I always got a big kick out of the posts here about looking younger than you are. People would say, "Oh, I'm (25-35) and people always think I'm in my teens." The truth is, young adults generally look the same once they hit maturity and for a good decade or so after, provided they don't completely abuse their body/suffer from some sort of illness. After that, things change. For me, I prob. came into my "adult look" around 35. Not that I looked aged or old, I just looked mature and less childlike. And after 40 shit goes downhill fast. No one escapes Father Time.

[starburst604]

Hmmmm, I can't say I remember much happening other than weight gain and declining vision, which was really noticeable because I had 20/20 my whole life. I'll be 49 in a few months and I feel the best I have in a long time, thanks to losing 250 lbs of DEAD WEIGHT I think lol. I think staying physically active helps to keep away the aches and pains I hear my peers talk about. 

I’m still pretty damn spry! Obviously I look order than I did 10 years ago, but who doesn’t? And I still look good.