Did you know that aging has an accelerator?
On the night of the 12th, Channel A’s ‘Birth of Momshin’ introduced the “Aging Spike,” which reportedly occurs twice in a lifetime, along with antioxidant detox solutions to prevent it.
Internal medicine specialist Kwon Yong-hwan explained, “Aging doesn’t progress in a gentle straight line; it hits the body like a fastball at specific times,” noting that physical indicators drop sharply around ages 44 and 60. Oriental medicine doctor Kim Jung-jin added, “Scholars call this period ‘the great transition of life,'” advising that we must prepare to face aging more gently to avoid the impact of these spikes.
According to the broadcast, researchers at Stanford University in 2024 tracked 10 biological markers—including genes, proteins, metabolic substances related to vascular health, inflammatory cytokines, and gut microbes—in 123 people aged 25 to 75 over several years. The results confirmed a pattern where aging indicators fluctuated significantly around ages 44 and 60.
During the first spike around age 44, the cardiovascular and metabolic systems take a direct hit. Blood vessels age rapidly, neutral fats accumulate in the abdomen leading to more belly fat, and signs of metabolic diseases or numbness in the hands and feet begin to appear. Alcohol decomposition ability also plummets during this time. Dr. Kim noted, “The mid-40s is generally when people start complaining that they can’t drink as much as before or that hangovers last longer.”
The core of the second aging spike around age 60 is “immune collapse.” Immune substances and the ability to control inflammation decrease, and while the cells’ antioxidant capacity weakens, oxidative stress indicators soar. It was explained that the high incidence of shingles in people in their 60s is linked to this immune aging.
Family medicine specialist Byun Ji-hyun mentioned that you can check your aging level by the speed at which your nails grow, as they grow faster when you’re younger. Dr. William Bennett Bean from the US measured his own thumbnail over 35 years and found that the growth rate decreased from 0.123mm per day in his 30s to 0.095mm in his 60s. Pharmacist Jung Sang-min added, “Cell regeneration in our body shows step-like changes that drop at specific intervals.”
‘Birth of Momshin’ is a makeover program that observes the daily lives of challengers who have lost their health and beauty and provides expert solutions. It airs every Tuesday night at 8 PM on Channel A.
