Toll of Age
As we age, gravity takes its toll. Things start to sag. Even our ears and nose seem larger due to the long-term effects of gravity. We also lose muscle mass and often accumulate extra fat. Our ligaments and tendons get less flexible. Our skin gets thinner. Our brain loses some cells as few new brain cells are formed. We get a bit slower at learning new things.
What’s the Number
Our age is a number, but that number means something different for every person. Our chronological age measures the number of trips we’ve made around the sun, not how old we feel or how ‘old’ our body seems. Another measure, our biological age, measures the aging in our bodies. At least 170 markers have been used to estimate biological age.
Ages of Man
Gene’s of Aging
Some of our aging is not in our control. Our genes contribute about a ⅓ of our aging criteria. The other ⅔ are things we can control. Here are some markers for aging.
DNA Age
One marker for biological age is the length of the ends of the DNA molecule in our cells. DNA is a very long strand, 6 feet long! This long strand is wound and packed into each one of our trillions of cells. At the end of this DNA packet is a structure called telomeres. They are the longest when we are babies and get shorter with age. Each cell has a copy of the DNA that it uses to make a new copy of the cell. When the telomeres get too short, the cells can no longer divide and create new copies, so they age and degrade.
Cell Age
Cells normally replace themselves constantly. Some, like in our intestine lining, replace themselves every few days and some, like our spinal nerve cells, only rarely in a lifetime.
The Inflammation Clock
As we age, the level of chronic inflammation in our cells increases. As cells age and become damaged, they release molecules that trigger inflammation. This inflammation wears down organs and body systems. Inflammation also plays a part in degrading those precious ends of the DNA molecule. Keeping inflammation in check is a key part of fighting aging. The C-reactive protein blood test is one lab test that measures inflammation.
Age of Arteries
As we age, our arteries become less flexible and narrower. It is possible to use an ultrasound to measure the thickness of the arteries that lead from the heart to the brain. This test, called a CIMT test, suggests the age of your arteries. The thicker they are, the ‘older’ they are. Another test measures the flexibility of arteries. Every heartbeat, your arteries send a beat down the vessels. The speed of this pulse can be measured. This test is called a pulse wave velocity test.
Blood Pressure Gauge
Blood pressure is one of the simplest measures of biological age. High blood pressure, which has no symptoms, is linked to future heart disease. It is a warning of potential trouble. As we age, our blood pressure naturally rises.
Blood Chemistry Age
High levels of good cholesterol, the HDL variety, seem to be linked with longer lifespans and lower biological age. Also, our ability to manage blood sugar decreases with age. Our cells can become less responsive to insulin, making blood sugar stay higher longer. Long periods of high blood sugar can damage cells.
Lung Age
The forced expiratory volume test measures how much air a person can blow out in a single breath. This is the best measure of lung performance, which declines with age.
Cognitive Age
One of the measures of age is our thinking speed. Thankfully, our thinking doesn’t decline as fast as our muscle strength. But slower thinking is a marker of higher biological age.
Walking Age
Another measure of age is walking speed. As we age, we tend to walk more slowly. Walking is hard. There are still no robots who can walk like a human. The vast amount of muscle coordination and balance required for walking is why we tend to slow down our walking speed as we age. It’s also another reason walking is so good for us. Walking keeps our bodies balanced and coordinated.
Grip Age
As we age, we lose muscle mass and muscle strength. One way to measure age is through grip strength. How much grip strength have you maintained?
Sleep Age
As we age, sleep becomes more fitful. Waking at night becomes more common. Often, when we wake up at night, we feel overwhelmed by problems that we could easily manage during the day.
Measuring Age
There are many ways to measure your biological age. In addition to the ones listed here, there is the Framingham score.
Life after 80
Although the total life expectancy at birth is around 80, an 80-year-old man or woman has an average life expectancy of 7 to 9 years. Think of how long that seemed when you were a child. Make the most of every day.
Extended Age
Calorie restriction is the only 100% proven way to extend life for many animals and humans. Eating fewer calories lengthens life. One may question whether a longer life is worth that. An alternative to regular low-calorie meals is to fast a day or two each week.
Choose Life
Several studies have shown that many factors affect aging. The primary factors are diet, exercise, smoking, weight, and sleep. There is also the social-emotional aspect that underlies all behaviour. It is never too late to improve your daily choices. Even at advanced ages, improvements in habits lead to dramatically better results. Stay young at heart, mind, soul, and body.
