Scientists in New Zealand have looked at the pace at which people age, UPI has the story. The study involved 1000 people followed from birth to age 45.
The pace of their biological aging was tracked starting at age 26, based on measures like body fat, heart fitness, lung capacity, markers of inflammation in the blood, and even cavities.
It turned out that, indeed, people varied widely in biological aging: The slowest ager gained only 0.4 "biological years" for each chronological year in age; in contrast, the fastest-aging participant gained nearly 2.5 biological years for every chronological year.
Some burn the candle at both ends, for sure. One wonders if there are social, occupational or personality correlates with various rates of physical aging? This study looks ready for follow-ons comparing slow and fast aging cohorts.
For instance, I’d guess that my career - as an academic - is associated with slow aging. Most faculty obituaries from my former campus show retired faculty dying in their late 80s and beyond.
