Researchers Say Life Begins (to End) Around 40

Talk about a midlife crisis! Researchers from Stanford University and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore discovered that humans age dramatically at 44 and again at 60. In a study published in Nature Aging, researchers followed 108 participants over several years to observe aging changes in their RNA, proteins and microbiomes. They learned that subjects don’t age gradually.

For example, researchers said that the ability to metabolize caffeine notably decreases—first around the age of 40 and once more around 60. Components involved in metabolizing alcohol also diminish, particularly around the age of 40, said Michael Snyder, chair of the department of genetics at Stanford and an author of the study.

The takeaway? Researchers advise lifestyle changes such as drinking less alcohol and exercising more around these key ages. The authors also recommended people nearing 60 watch their carbohydrate intake and drink plenty of water to improve kidney function.

Good stuff. But if you want even more ideas to curb the effects of time, join me on September 12 when Happi presents our Health & Longevity Conference at Convene, 360 Madison Avenue in New York City. There’s still time to claim your seat. Register at happiwellnessconference.com. 

What skincare actives are grabbing headlines and a share of consumers’ hard-earned cash? Click here to read Christine Esposito’s coverage of hot skincare ingredients. Her list includes copper peptides, tranexamic acid, vitamin C, and hyaluronic, glycolic and salicylic acids. 

Want more buzzwords? How about biotechnology and clean beauty? Check out the promise of IFF’s proprietary Designed Enzymatic Biopolymers (click here). According to author Dave Frattarelli, DEBs deliver three benefits: customization, structural uniformity and biodegradability.

Also in this issue, Melissa Meisel takes a look at the home fragrance market (click here). Sales gains are harder to come by, post-pandemic, but there are still growth opportunities in this multi-billion-dollar business.

Finally, whether you’re creating next-gen bodywash or laundry detergent, surfactants play a big role in every formulating consideration. Our coverage of this critical ingredient category starts here.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Happi. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.