Grow Old with Me. The Best is Yet to Be.
Robert Browning
Ageing
Ageing isn’t very well understood. Our muscles atrophy, our bones get brittle, we can’t poop and we get cranky.
Or so the media would have us believe but that image is completely false and fostered by people who do not know what getting old really feels like let alone what happens. What they describe are the results of not knowing how the body functions. And because we don’t know our own bodies, we make poor choices.
Ageing can be slowed dramatically and yes, even reversed. Yes, ageing can be reversed. The fountain of youth exists and it sleeps within us until we wake it up.
I liken myself to the ageing quarterback who has lost a step but acquired the experience to be a master chess player when dissecting defenses, there is a nexus when physical prowess is on the wane but knowledge is ever increasing…and time is short.
Now, let’s get down to business and see what is actually happening within our bodies so that we can respond properly.
Teleomeres
Telomeres are protective caps on chromosome ends. They have been described as similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces. They consist of repeating sequences of non-coding DNA that prevent the chromosomes from fraying, tangling, or fusing with each other.
Gradual shortening of telomeres with age is normal, but as cells continue to divide over a lifetime, their telomeres become progressively shorter until they reach a critical length. At this point, the cell either stops dividing (a state called senescence) or dies (apoptosis). This process acts as a “cellular clock” that limits the lifespan of a cell.
Factors like genetics, environment, lifestyle, and stress can accelerate telomere shortening.
For a deeper dive go here Shorter telomeres can lead to DNA damage, cell death, and age-related diseases and here Telomere length can indicate an individual’s biological age, and various factors are associated with reduced telomere length.
Sarcopenia
Another part of the aging process is Sarcopenia. Just sounds nasty, doesn’t it?
Sarcopenia is a condition in which muscle mass, strength, and performance diminish with age and it is a major factor in increased frailty, falls and fractures.
It has been linked to metabolic problems like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, which put you at greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, and other conditions that affect the blood vessels.
It isn’t a question of will my muscles atrophy? They will.
However, that process can be slowed dramatically.
Osteoporosus
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone. Bones become weak and brittle, bending over or coughing can cause a break.
White and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause, are at highest risk.
Fortunately, the human body has a naturally occurring response that can be employed at any time.