Turning Point at 50: New Proteomics Atlas Maps How Our Tissues Age
A proteomics study of 516 samples from 76 organ donors aged 14–68 finds an aging inflection around age 50, with vascular tissues like the aorta aging fastest. The team built tissue-specific aging clocks across seven body systems, mapped organ aging trajectories, and identified disease-related protein changes that rise with age. Notably, most remodeling occurs between ages 45–55. In a mouse experiment, a protein linked to vascular aging induced declines in physical performance, underscoring the aorta and blood vessels as early aging targets. The work aims to create a comprehensive multi-tissue aging atlas to guide interventions for age-related diseases.