What Is It?
The thought of aging conjures some common perceptions: wrinkles, gray hair, a slightly stooped posture, perhaps some "senior moments" of forgetfulness. In fact, the process of aging has a nearly universal impact on our bodies, affecting our cells, tissues, organs, and body systems. The effects of aging can be seen in everything from our vital signs (like blood pressure) to our skin, to our bone and joints, to our cardiovascular, digestive, and nervous systems, and beyond. Some aging changes begin early in life. For example, your metabolism starts to gradually decline beginning at about age 20. Changes in your hearing, on the other hand, do not usually begin until age 50 or later.
We do not yet fully understand the complex interplay of factors that cause us to age as we do. Most likely, the vast and varied changes associated with aging result from a lifetime of environmental and cultural influences, as well as genetics, diet, exercise, illness and a host of other factors, all of which contribute to the aging process. A series of remarkable biological research studies since the 1990's have identified genes that can profoundly influence the rate at which cells, and animals, age. The good news from these studies is that biological changes that extend life also seem to extend vitality: animals that live longer remain quite healthy for most of their lengthened life. None of these discoveries is close to providing a "fountain of youth" for humans, but some scientists believe that the 21st Century will see the development of drugs that can extend human life and simultaneously improve human health.
Following are examples of how aging affects some of our major body systems.
Cells, organs and tissues:
- Cells become larger and less able to divide
- The telomeres -- the ends of the chromosomes inside every cell -- gradually get shorter until the cell dies
- Waste products accumulate in tissue
- Connective tissue between the cells becomes stiffer
- The maximum functional capacity of many organs decreases
Heart and blood vessels:
- The wall of the heart gets thicker
- Heart muscle become less efficient (working harder to pump the same amount of blood)
- The aorta (the body's main artery) becomes thicker, stiffer and less flexible
- It is harder for the body to control its temperature
- Heart rate takes longer to return to normal after exercise
Bones, muscles, joints:
- Bones become thinner and less strong
- Joints become stiffer and less flexible
- The cartilage and bone in joints starts to weaken
- Muscle tissue becomes less bulky and less strong
- The movement of food through the digestive system becomes slower
- The stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine make smaller amounts of digestive juices
Brain and nervous system:
- The number of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord decreases.
- Abnormal structures, known as plaques and tangles, may form in the brain.
Eyes and Ears:
- The retinas get thinner, the irises get stiffer
- The lenses become less clear
- The walls of the ear canal get thinner
- The eardrums get thicker
Skin, nails and hair:
- Skin gets thinner and becomes less elastic
- Sweat glands produce less sweat
- Nails grow more slowly
- Hairs get gray and some no longer grow
We each age at different rates, and to different degrees, and yet we experience many common effects of aging. Some common signs and symptoms of aging include:
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Greater risk of heat stroke or hypothermia
- Slight decrease in height
- Bones break more easily
- Joint changes, ranging from minor stiffness to severe arthritis
- Stooped posture
- Slowed and limited movement
- Decrease in overall energy
- Urinary incontinence
- Slight slowing of thought, memory and thinking (however, delirium, dementia and severe memory loss are NOT a normal part of aging)
- Reduced reflexes and coordination and difficulty with balance
- Decrease in visual acuity
- Diminished peripheral vision
- Some degree of hearing loss
- Wrinkling and sagging skin
- Whitening or graying of hair
- Weight loss, after age 55 in men and after age 65 in women, in part due to loss of muscle tissue.
Although the body and mind go through many natural changes as we age, not all changes are normal. There are many misconceptions about what is a normal part of aging. Senility, for example, is not a natural consequence of getting old, though many people believe that it is.
It is important to talk to your physician about any changes you are experiencing. Your doctor can help you differentiate between what is a normal part of aging, and what is not. If necessary, your doctor may refer you to a specialist.
Aging is a continuous, progressive process that continues until the end of life.
We cannot stop ourselves from getting older. However, we can do our best to maintain our quality of life. One way to do this is to try to prevent some of the diseases and conditions that become more likely as we age.
But even the concept of prevention can become controversial as we get older. For example, experts often disagree on how long to continue certain preventive care strategies. That is because the potential benefits of screening tests and procedures decline as you get older, and because screening tests can sometimes lead to harm. For example, if the test is falsely positive -- indicates that a person may have a disease even he or she doesn't -- additional, more risky testing may be ordered.
Your own health care provider should work with you to determine whether you should have a particular screening test. For example, a screening test for a particular disease may not be necessary if your risk of getting that disease is very low in the first place. Or if you know you would not accept treatment for a particular disease, if it was discovered by a screening test, then it might not be worth getting the test in the first place. Or if it would not extend or enhance your life to discover and treat a particular disease, then it would not be worth doing a screening test for the disease. Only your health care provider and you can determine whether screening tests are worthwhile.
In addition to recommended screening tests, older adults should also be aware of recommended vaccinations. These include an annual herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine for people ages 60 and over, an annual flu vaccine, at least one pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine after age 65, and a tetanus-diphtheria booster shot every 10 years.
As you age, it is important to think about not only how long you will live, but how well you will live. The following strategies can help you maintain and perhaps even enhance your quality of life as you age.
- Don't smoke. Smoking contributes to heart disease, osteoporosis and stroke, and it increases the risk of many cancers. Smoking even appears to make a person's memory worse. The good news is that people who quit smoking can repair some, if not all, of the damage done.
- Build physical and mental activities into every day. Physical activity is good for the body and the mind. Exercise (and even activity such as gardening or housekeeping that people don't think of as exercise) helps keep your bones and heart healthy, and your weight in check. Studies have also shown that physically active people lower their risk for developing dementia and are more likely to stay mentally active. And staying mentally active helps ward off memory loss.
- Eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and substitute healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for unhealthy saturated fats and trans fats. Such a diet protects you against many diseases, including the biggest killers -- heart disease, cancer and stroke.
- Take a daily multivitamin, and be sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D. That means 1200 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day for men and women age 50 years and older. Daily vitamin D recommendations range from 600 International Units (IU) per day for adults under age 60 to 600-1,000 IU per day for people over age 60. A growing number of experts recommend up to 1,000 IU each day, although the value of this has not been proved by scientific studies.
- Maintain a healthy weight and body shape. As we get older, our metabolism slows, making it harder to burn off calories. But excess body weight can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers. Body shape is important as well. Men and women who carry more weight around their abdomens have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than those who carry extra weight around their hips.
- Challenge your mind. Some evidence suggests that reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing a musical instrument, even engaging in thought-provoking conversations, can help keep your mind sharp.
- Build a strong social network. As you get older, it's important to maintain close and rewarding ties with family and friends, and to create new connections when possible. Some studies suggest that social ties might help ward off dementia and keep you mentally sharp. Other studies suggest that strong social connections can help you live longer.
- Protect your sight, hearing and general health by following preventive care guidelines.
- Floss, brush and see a dentist regularly. Poor oral health may have many repercussions, including poor nutrition, unnecessary pain, and possibly even a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Discuss with your doctor whether you need any medication -- perhaps to control high blood pressure, treat osteoporosis or lower cholesterol -- to help you stay healthy.
When To Call a Professional
Call your doctor if you notice any changes that are not a normal part of aging. For example, although some occasional forgetfulness and slowing of thought are not uncommon, delirium, dementia and severe memory loss are not a normal part of aging, and should be reported to your doctor.
Although aging is inevitable, you can take steps to reduce your risk of disease and maintain your quality of life as you get older.
American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10118
National Institute on Aging
Building 31, Room 5C27
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892