Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College, joined Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 to discuss ‘Sniper’s Alley’ - a period of time, around your 50s, when you become more susceptible to negative health events.
"Suddenly, things like heart disease, stroke, cancer - the incidents go up. They're called risk inflection points," Luke explains.
Lifestyle, he says, is one of the biggest factors contributing to health events, but adds that it is also a part of the ageing process.
"Wear and tear begins to take its toll on organs and our body," he says. "As we get older, these things begin to affect us."
Physically, we may associate ageing with grey hairs and fine lines, but it can actually lead to a number of health-related issues, such as weight gain and diabetes.
"Your metabolism changes as you get older," says Luke. "Diabetes goes up, for instance, as you age, as well. You might eat the same foods as you did in your 20s, and maybe even have the same exercise but you're now inclined to put a bit of weight on, especially around the midriff in men, for instance. That seems harder to keep at bay."
While grey hairs and fine lines do us no harm, weight around the waistline is a concern as it increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Blood pressure and cholesterol should also be kept in check, as they have a tendency to rise as you age, and can lead to heart attacks and strokes if left to skyrocket.
"Everybody in your 50s, get your blood pressure checked," Luke advised listeners.
As Brendan so finely put it, ageing has a way of happening both slowly and all at once.
Professor O'Neill explains that certain ages have 'peaks of ageing', with 32, 66 and 83 all marked as key inflection points.
"You can stave these things off," he insists. "You can slow it down is the key bit. It's not as if it's written in stone."
"It's never too late to try and change," he continues, noting that diet will have a huge impact on both your short-term and long-term health.
O'Neill suggests avoiding ultra-processed foods and embracing the Mediterranean diet, which is filled with vegetable oils, seafood, and fibre.
For more lessons in long-term health and avoiding 'sniper's alley', listen back to the interview above. If you have any concerns relating to your health, be sure to contact your GP.
