Is it Possible to Prevent Ageing?

 Is it Possible to Prevent Ageing?'

Assuming you haven't died yet, you're undoubtedly ageing.

Even if you don't realise it, you are.

The majority of the changes we experience as we enter our twenties are positive as we transition from our teenage years.

Having more independence and more opportunities for adventure await us as we enter our twenties. At this point in time, we are physically perfect.

By the time we reach our thirties, we've gained a lot of life experience, a wealth of knowledge, and, thankfully, our bodies and minds are still going strong.

However, there comes a point, maybe in our 50s or 60s, when we begin to notice some unsavoury consequences of ageing.

We might not be in the same level of physical condition as before. We begin to notice droops and puckers. Everybody gets sores and aches. We might be exhibiting a hint of amnesia.

The lovely innocence of our youth is no more.

For what reasons do we become older?

Many have pondered the mystery of human development throughout the ages, from the fertilised egg to the newborn, the child, the adolescent, and the young adult. Perfect occurrence of a myriad of extremely complicated changes within our bodies is required for this to occur.

Why can't we just remain perfect adults once we reach that point? Growing older is a necessity, but why?

Will it continue if we do nothing?

Scientists and doctors used to disregard the effects of ageing. There was a time when scientists didn't see the need to study ageing since it was a natural process.

More and more studies are focusing on the ageing process because a growing number of baby boomers are reaching middle age and are eager to maintain their youthful appearance.

The ageing process is a mystery to scientists, who are also looking into potential solutions to delay or halt the ageing process.

There will be huge societal benefits if we can discover new ways to keep the elderly physically and mentally healthy for longer.

Everyone hopes to live a long and healthy life, but nobody wants to be in agony or see their mental faculties deteriorate in their twilight years.

New information is being uncovered at a rapid pace, and scientists have already identified some of the elements that impact the ageing process. Despite the plethora of hypotheses put forth in an effort to decipher the ageing process, it remains unclear what exactly causes ageing and how various processes are interconnected.

Some of the most popular explanations for ageing are as follows:

The Hayflick Limit Theory was put forth by two scentists in the 1960s who observed that numerous human cells would divide up to a certain point and then cease. Rapid cell division was indicative of a healthy diet. It is possible that cells in the body have an innate genetic programme that instructs them to stop reproducing.

According to the theory of free radicals, any molecule or atom with an unpaired electron is considered a free radical. To maintain electrical balance, these atoms or molecules will steal an electron from another nearby atom, producing yet another free radical—and so on, damaging cells and organs in a domino effect.

While the generation of free radicals certainly does contribute to the acceleration of cellular damage, it certainly does not explain all of the signs of ageing. One cannot escape free radicals. As a result of existing in a physical form, they are unavoidable. Yet, by consuming an abundance of fresh produce and avoiding pollutants, we can mitigate the effects of free radicals.

According to the telomere theory, certain chemicals called telomeres may be able to shield the chromosomes from harm within our cells. Our telemeres shorten and lose some of their chromosomal protection with each cell division. This could be the reason why the cells sustain damage and ultimately die. Researchers are presently attempting to determine a way to restore telomeres and halt cell damage.

Glycation is the process by which proteins in the body are damaged when they react with high blood sugar levels. "Glycation" describes this action. The malfunction of various other bodily systems might be aided by these proteins that have been damaged by sugar. Because of their abnormal blood sugar levels, people with diabetes or insulin resistance are especially susceptible to glycation damage.

Making sure we avoid excess blood sugar levels may be able to slow down the negative effects of ageing if it turns out that glycation is a major contributor.

Aside from these, the following also contribute to ageing:

Hormone production drops dramatically as we get older, our detoxification systems get less effective, cell DNA gets damaged, and our bodies' repair systems get overwhelmed by stress and environmental pollutants in food, water, and air.

While these do help paint a picture, they are far from exhaustive, regarding the reasons behind ageing. We don't have a complete understanding of this process's causes just yet. As of this writing, there is no silver bullet that can put an end to it.

If researchers can find a way to delay the ageing process, we can live out our lives to the fullest while still looking and feeling our best.

And that is an exciting prospect!

Location:

Share :