What happens to a person's body when he gets old?

Upon reaching adulthood, we notice changes in our body that occur at every stage of aging. After 30 years we may need glasses, after 40 years it may become more difficult for us to maintain a normal body weight, after 50 it may become physically difficult for us to play sports with children, and after 60 we may not hear what is being said at the table during a dinner party.

There are many theories explaining the causes of aging of the human body. According to one of the two main explanations, life expectancy is determined by genes. According to the second, often called "the theory of body wear", the body and DNA are damaged until they lose the ability to function as well as before.

Aging of the brain

As we age, the volume of the brain decreases. There are many possible explanations for this phenomenon, including cell death caused by the gradual destruction of their structure.

Despite the fact that the exact reasons for the decrease in brain volume are unclear, the results of a number of studies indicate that the reasons for this may be changes in hormonal status, as well as wear and tear.

Some experts also believe that the volume of blood entering the brain decreases due to damage to blood vessels and associated systems. However, this does not significantly affect a person's ability to remember, since the brain can compensate for these changes.

You may have heard of neuroplasticity. This term is used to explain the brain's ability to "rewire" by forming new signaling pathways that compensate for damage. These new paths are formed when new experiences appear. Therefore, solving crosswords throughout life will not increase the number of signaling pathways that will form when mastering a new activity that requires training and training.

While the risk of developing dementia (dementia) increases with age due to the increasing influence of many hundreds of causes as we age, this condition is not a component of the normal aging process. It is the result of brain damage. The reason that dementia is more likely to develop in old age is only that the longer a person lives, the more his body is exposed to the possible damaging effects of diseases and injuries, which are the main causes of the development of dementia.

Alzheimer's disease – the most common cause of dementia – develops when protein plaques accumulate in brain tissues. This is the result of the accumulation of proteins, which inevitably leads to the formation of pathological strands in neurons.

Changes in muscle strength

As we age, there is a decrease in the volume and strength of muscle tissue, which is mainly due to the influence of a decrease in hormone levels. To restore the muscle mass lost in one day of strict bed rest, elderly people may need up to two weeks of training.

However, the additional extinction of muscle tissue is caused by a decrease in activity, not only by the normal aging process.

Reduction of bone density

The aging body absorbs less calcium from foods – a mineral that plays a key role in maintaining bone health. At the same time, changes in hormone levels affect bone density.

In addition, aging people spend less time in the sun, which reduces the intake of vitamin D. This, in turn, further reduces the digestibility of calcium.

It is very important for the elderly to continue physical training. They not only help maintain muscle strength, but also prevent an age-related decrease in bone density, reducing the risk of falls and fractures of the femoral neck.

Changes in the acuity of feelings

The direct impact of aging extends to vision, hearing, sense of taste and sense of smell. Usually, first of all, a person notices a deterioration in vision, which makes him feel the approach of old age.

Changes in the eye that are part of the aging process include thickening and clouding of the lens, a decrease in the number of nerve cells and intraocular fluid. This makes it difficult to focus on closely located objects, impairs vision in dim light conditions and the ability to adapt to changes in illumination.

Some people seem awkward because they have problems estimating the distance between objects, for example, between a table and a cup or stairs. Some people do not realize that they are shedding fluid and stumble due to changes in vision, known as deep vision changes. The eyes also become dry and irritated. This can be dealt with with the help of moisturizing drops.

Hearing changes include changes in the ability to register high-frequency sounds, which can make it difficult to recognize words. Raising the voice during a conversation is useless in this case, since the problem lies in the pitch of the sound, not in the volume. Instead, you should speak a little slower and try to pronounce the words completely.

The senses of taste and smell often fade during the normal aging process due to a decrease in the number of sensitive cells and an age-related decrease in their ability to regenerate. This makes the food less tasty and can lead to a decrease in the amount of food consumed. In addition, taste sensations can generally change, and a chocolate lover can switch to chili pepper with age.

In general, we can say that many age-related changes in the body are due to the normal aging process, while no fewer changes are the result of lifestyle factors. Not all of us are destined to grow old on the principle of "nothing can be done". Many useful habits adopted at a young age can help a person in old age. Far-sighted decisions and understanding from the public will help people adapt to the positive aging process.

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of The Conversation: What's happening in our bodies as we age?

08.02.2017