What Does the Body Tell When It Becomes Older

Having matured, we notice various changes in our bodies which we can describe with one simple word – “aging”. By the time of 30 years some need to wear glasses, by 40 – it becomes more and more difficult to maintain the regular weight, by 50 – people notice that they can’t play with children as actively as before, by 60 – the person may hear worse what people on the other side of the table talk about.

There are many theories why the body grow older, but there are two the most famous ones.  According to the first theory – the lifespan is determined by DNA via genes; according to the second one – our body and DNA fade away with the flow of time and then at some moment they just stop functioning properly. In other words, they wear out.

Aged Brain

With age brain volume becomes less. There are different explanations. One of them is atrophy of the cells due to wearing out of their structure. Another is caused by the imbalance of hormones. Some scientists also explain this by the decrease of blood volume going to the brain that is connected with the transformations in blood vessels. However, it doesn’t influence the ability to have a good memory, because the brain can compensate these changes.

Perhaps, you’ve heard about neuroplasty. This term marks the process of brain renovation with the help of creating new corridors inside the nerve cells to compensate the damage. Brain does it on its own. New corridors appear when the person obtains a new experience.  That is why if you do crosswords all the time, it won’t increase the number of corridors in your brain. It will be more effectively try some new activity which requires new knowledge and practice.

With age the risk of amentia increases. It is caused by the brain damages. Older people suffer from it because of one reason: the more the person lives, the higher possibility to get some injure or disease is.

Alzheimer’s is the most widespread reason of amentia in Australia. It is caused by protein decomposition products, which with the flow of time leads to the formation of fibre structures in the brain.

Changes in the Muscle Power

With age volume and power of the muscles also decrease. The main reason is the lowering of hormone level. To compensate the loss of muscles during the day of bed rest, the elderly person may need to exercise during two weeks. Muscles may shorten even more, if person’s activity decreases.

Bone Solidity

As a person ages, the organism absorbs less calcium from food that is of vital importance for bones. Hormone changes also influence bone strength. Aging people spend less time under the sun that decreases the consumption of vitamin D. In its turn it lessens absorption of calcium.

It’s very important for older people to continue exercising. It will not only help to stay tuned, but also to keep bones strong and avoid the risk of falls and fractures.

Sense Body Alterations

Changes which take place during aging also influence sight, hearing, taste and smell. First of all, people notice worsening of sight. In the frames of aging eye lenses become more rigid; number of nerve cells and liquid in the eye decreases. That is why it’s more difficult to focuse on some close objects, watch something in poor light and also adjust to worse lighting.

Some people seem awkward, because it’s difficult for them to estimate the distance between the objects (cups on the table, height of the steps etc.). Many older people don’t understand that they often stumble and pour out something. The only reason is that they can’t see well. Eyes may become drier and that’s why they start to become too sensitive. It may be cured with a help of moisturizing drops.

Impaired hearing is shown via the changes of high-pitched sounds perception. It becomes harder to understand the words. To talk louder to such a person is not a way out as the issue is not in the volume but in pitch of the sound. One should better try to talk slower and more distinct.

Taste and smell also become worse with age. It is explained by the decrease of cells responsible for the quality of these senses. The ability to reconstruct the cells weakens. As a result, food becomes less tasty, the appetite disappears. Besides, people may obtain different eating habits. In particular, the person who used to eating chocolate with age may love eating chili.

Therefore, there are some processes which are considered normal for aging, but there are those which people cause by wrong way of life. Not everyone is destined to age in a downward. In many aspects our old age is influenced by the way of life we had in youth. Having selected an active way, we can positively adapt to the process of aging.