Here we begin a multipart series on the topic of aging. This topic is, or will be, of interest
to all.

Aging can be considered in a number of ways. Each year, we get a little older. This is chronological age. However, biological age uses a different scale. Most of us know someone at 50 years who looks and acts like a 70 year old and, conversely, someone who looks and acts like they are in their late 30’s. It is too simple to say that genetics is the answer.

One author stated that as we age we get the 4Ds: disability, discomfort, drugs and doctors. In general, as we age we see a decrease in muscle and bone mass or density, along with a decrease in water retention and an increase in fat mass.

While years go by steadily, our bodies age at different rates depending on how we have taken care of the different systems (organs) of our body.

Most people recognize the signs of aging between 40 and 50 years. However, the seeds of this aging process start decades before. Let's talk about what happens to our bodies over the years.

First, our brain will shrink slightly with an accompanying loss in cognitive skills. We become a little more forgetful.

If we don't already need glasses, our vision begins to suffer as our eye loses its elasticity, lessoning its ability to accommodate to lower light and distinguish colors, especially yellow and blue.

Our hearing begins a gradual decline, with loss of the ability to hear high tones or to listen well with a lot of background noise. We also slowly lose our sense of taste and smell, often tricking us into wanting much more salt than we need to season our food. Our skin loses its elasticity and becomes thinner. We experience a general decrease in functionality of our internal organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. Add to these changes a general decrease in the ability to produce digestive enzymes, and you have a rough idea of the aging process.

“While we can’t stop the aging process,
it is possible to slow it down and potentially
reverse some effects of our past bad lifestyle habits.”

Enough of what we all know...as we age we degenerate. But why does this happen?

There are two great classifications of theories behind the aging process. The first centers on chance and includes the topics of oxidation and free radicals. These produce free electrons that attach themselves to our molecular structure and create most, if not all, of the degenerative conditions found in the body. Another example of this type of aging process is that caused by excess sugar intake. Sugar binds to proteins. This sugar or glucose binding then disrupts the ability of the cell to replicate or repair itself. The ravages of diabetes are an example of this type of aging process.

The other great classification is one best described as evolutionary, or part of the grand design of nature. This was started by a phenomenon known as the Hayflick factor. This experiment showed that cells would reproduce themselves about 50 times and then die off. This gave rise to the concept that we have an aging clock in every cell of our body. However, experiments showed that with proper nutritional support, this selflimiting replication threshold was easily surpassed. This theory was replaced by one centered around shortening of telomeres. These are the endings of the chromosomes that give the blueprints that our cells need to replicate themselves.

What are the signs of premature aging?

You cannot always tell a book by its cover, as the saying goes, but you can by its content.

The earliest sign is a lack of vitality; quick energy loss and no longer having a sense of well being. In general, you do not enjoy life as much as you used to.

“Most people recognize the signs
of aging between 40 and 50 years.”

Next to go is the libido. That sex drive of youth is gone or dramatically reduced.

One begins to get muscle aches for no apparent reason and takes longer to heal from injuries. Along with this, your immune system is weaker, resulting in more colds and flu which tend to last longer.

Your figure starts to change, with either a weight loss or gain over 20 pounds.

Finally, depression and anxiety are on the rise, and your whole mental outlook is changed.

While we can’t stop the aging process, it is possible to slow it down and potentially reverse some effects of our past bad lifestyle habits.

The next installment of this newsletter will broadly discuss the four major areas that can positively or negatively effect aging.

back to list