One of the greatest anxieties that humans dread is aging. Like all living things, the process of aging means edging towards the end of life. But this is not to say that aging is a death sentence because at this point people tend to let go off a lot of things from socialising, exercising and even eating well. Despite this worrisome phenomenon, there are ways to stay young and live life to the fullest. RALIAT AHMED-YUSUF writes.
Have you ever wondered why people age? A lot of people would remain young if they had their way, but ageing is something no one has control over. This is because the ageing process brings social and emotional change and loss into our lives. Inevitably, as we age, older relatives die, then some of our friends may grow frail and die, then loss of a spouse affects many.
Physical losses and social losses that can accompany ageing may be very difficult emotionally. Grief and sadness are normal reactions to such situations and we cannot rule out these reactions in ourselves or our older relatives.
While we cannot stop ourselves from growing old the most we can hope for is living a healthy life.
Healthy aging is not just about staying physically healthy; it is about maintaining sense of purpose and zest for life. There are numerous challenges associated with the process of aging but how we manage or handle these changes is key to aging well.
Genes, lifestyle, and disease are factors that affect the rate of ageing. Studies have indicated that people age at different rates and in different ways. Normal ageing brings about changes such as loss of peripheral vision, loss of hearing acuity, especially sounds at the higher end of the spectrum, decreased taste buds and saliva, decreased sensitivity to touch and ability to smell, amongst others.
By understanding and describing how we age, researchers have developed different theories of ageing. The two categories are programmed theories and error theories. The former assert that the human body is designed to age and there is a certain biological timeline that our bodies follow, while the latter assert that ageing is caused by environmental damage to our body’s systems, which accumulates over time.
Studies have demonstrated that genetics can play a major role in ageing. When researchers adjust the genes in certain mice, yeast cells and other organisms, they can almost double the lifespan of these creatures. The meaning of these experiments for people is not known, but researchers think that genetics account for up to 35 per cent of the variation in ageing among people.
Biochemistry also plays a major role in ageing because no matter what genes you have inherited, your body is continually undergoing complex biochemical reactions. Some of these reactions cause damage and, ultimately, ageing in the body. Studying these complex reactions has helped to understand how the body changes as it ages. Important concepts in the biochemistry of ageing include:
Free Radicals: Unstable oxygen molecules which can damage cells.
Protein Cross-Linking: Excess sugars in the blood stream can cause protein molecules to literally stick together.
DNA Repair: For unknown reasons, the systems in the body to repair DNA seem to become less effective in older people.
However, many environmental conditions, such as the quality of health care one receives, have a substantial effect on ageing. A healthy lifestyle is an especially important factor in healthy ageing and longevity. Lifestyle factors have been shown to extend life, while positive thinking has also been shown to extend life in people by up to 7.5 years.
One can significantly extend one’s lifespan by eating foods loaded with antioxidants, which can minimise damage caused by free radicals; regular exercise, which can limit bone and muscle loss, and maintaining a low cholesterol level, which can slow the hardening of the arteries and protect the heart. Practicing mental fitness, helps keep the brain sharp and alcohol should be taken in moderation
We should always have it at the back of our minds that the ability to learn and adjust continues throughout life and is strongly influenced by interests, activities, and motivation, with years of our own circumstances. Just as the physical losses of later life can be compensated for, so also can the social and emotional losses be overcome. Old age, despite the physical limitations, can be a time of variety, creativity, and fulfillment.