What is ageing?

It is the impact of the accumulation of a range of molecular and cellular damage over time. Lately, there is an increasing interest in understanding and hopefully slowing down the ageing process.

What causes ageing

Ageing is caused by a bunch of complex biological mechanisms. One important reason is cellular senescence (the loss of proper cell division and function). With every cell division, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes known as telomeres—which are made up of DNA and are like threads—shorten, which eventually leads to the death of cells. Over time, DNA damage accumulates and the body's capacity to repair it decreases. Free radicals cause oxidative stress, which ages cells and damages them. It is crucial to understand these mechanisms to create methods that slow down the ageing process.

The Role of Genetics in Ageing

Ageing is largely influenced by genetics. Certain individuals tend to live longer, healthier lives. Research on long-lived people, such as centenarians, shows that some genetic characteristics play a role in their longevity. These genes emphasize the role of genetics in the ageing process by sustaining cellular health and providing protection against age-related illnesses.

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Ageing

Diet, exercise, sleeping habits, and sun exposure are all health-related aspects that can help slow down the ageing process. Overeating foods that are heavy in fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar raises the risk of diabetes and other issues associated with ageing. Regular exercise boosts the immune system and increases muscle mass, while getting enough sleep supports mental and cognitive health. Both ageing and skin cancer can be connected to excessive sun exposure.

Advances in Anti-Ageing Research

Thanks to recent scientific advancements, the ageing process may be slowed down. Limiting calories and intermittent fasting have shown potential in extending our lifespan by lowering stress on the cells. Cells that die build up with age and are a contributing factor to age-related disorders. Senolytic medicines* target and destroy these cells. These findings suggest that it could be possible to postpone ageing by modifying particular biological pathways.

Ethical and Practical Considerations

An increase in a person's lifespan causes some serious ethical and practical concerns. Living longer might burden our healthcare systems and lead to inequality if only certain people can afford anti-ageing therapies. People have also raised concerns about the social and psychological effects that longer lifespans shall have on the person and society at large.

Conclusion

Recent scientific developments give us some promising opportunities to slow down the process of ageing, probably to live longer and healthier lives. But it’s important that these developments have a balance between hope and reality. The best ways to encourage well-being as we age are to keep researching and more importantly, maintain a healthy lifestyle.

* Senolytic medicines—medicines that are specifically designed to target senescent cells, which are cells that no longer divide.

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