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The Science of Getting Old

THE SCIENCE OF GETTING OLD Nobody lives forever. In fact, if you're over 20 years old, it's likely you're already experiencing the effects of age on your body (they are probably slight if you're that young). Aging is an inevitable part of life, but do you know the science behind why hair becomes gray or skin wrinkles as we age? Why Do We Age? SCIENTISTS BELIEVE senescence is an irreversible step in the lives of cells, but what's not known is why this happens in the first place. ONE THEORY IS THAT SENESCENCE OF CELLS developed to prevent the uncontrollable growth of cells in old age; we know this as cancer. EVENTUALLY, the cells in our bodies become less equipped to repair and replicate themselves. THIS PROCESS OF SENESCENCE IS THE BASIS OF AGING. NTERESTINGLY, some IN THE CELL-DIVISION research suggests there may be ways to extend the lifespan of cells by using an enzyme in the body called TELOMERASE. PROCESS, telomeres keep DNA and RNA from becoming damaged. Telomeres EVENTUALLY even the telomeres can no longer divide, meaning the cells become susceptible to These cells are said to be immortal, and they make up only a tiny portion of the cells in a human body. age and death. But in some cells, including those in your immune system, TELOMERASE RESTORES THE TÉLOMERES TO THEIR FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, the mortal cells in your body do not allow telomerase inside. Two separate research projects aim to use telomerase to FULL SIZE AFTER CELL DIVISION. rapidly expand human lifespans. CURING CANCER? ENDLESS YOUTH? FOUR CLINICAL TRIALS RESEARCHERS HAVE FORCED are currently under way denying telomerase to areas of the body where cancer is growing. MORTAL CELLS to accept telomerase; the senescent cells saw their biological clocks reset and starting dividing again. IF SUCCESSFUL, THE CANCER CELLS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MULTIPLY, AND THE EXISTING CANCER CELLS WOULD DIE. Why Hair Turns Gray MELANIN, THE PIGMENT THAT GIVES YOUR HAIR ITS COLOR, BECOMES EXHAUSTED AT SOME POINT, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FOR Melanin EACH PERSON. GENETICS AND STRESS BOTH PLAY HUGE ROLES. OLD HAIR FOLLICLE Air bubbles Melanin is replaced with colorless air bubbles AVERAGE AGE GRAY HAIR SHOWS UP 301- 35 MEN: WOMEN: Why Skin Wrinkles COLLAGEN IS WHAT GIVES YOUTHFUL SKIN ITS LUSTER AND IN 2007 SUPPLE FEELING. STARTING WHEN YOU TURN 20, YOUR BODY 74,290 PRODUCES ABOUT I PERCENT LESS COLLAGEN EVERY YEAR. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS IS THAT COLLAGEN INJECTIONS THE SKIN BECOMES THINNER AND MORE FRAGILE, THUS MORE WERE PERFORMED TO FILL SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE RAVAGES OF GRAVITY. WRINKLES YOUNGER SKIN OLDER SKIN Epidermis Dermis with collagen fibers Hypodermis - subcotaneous fat Why We Forget MINOR DECLINES IN MEMORY AND MENTAL ABILITIES MOST LIKELY OCCUR BECAUSE THE BRAIN, LIKE MANY PARTS OF THE BODY, CHANGES AS WE AGE. CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BRAIN SHRINK, THE ABILITY AND OF NEURONS TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH EACH OTHER DECLINES. Why We Get Shorter The disks between the bones in our spines BECOME COMPRESSED OVER TIME. This causes the vertebrae to press closer together, meaning WE LOSE HEIGHT. Some elderly people also suffer from OSTEOPOROSIS, a process in which insufficient bone material is created by cells in the body, AND BONES BECOME SMALLER AND WEAKER AS A RESULT. 55% Osteoporosis POPULATION 50+ WITH OSTEOPOROSIS OR LOW BONE MASS EACH HIP FRACTURE DUE TO OSTEOPOROSIS ACCOUNTS FOR $40,000 IN TOTAL Normal bone MEDICAL COSTS. ONEDOLLARG Why We Can't See As Well AFTER AGE 40, MOST OF US WILL HAVE A HARD TIME FOCUSING ON OBJECTS UP CLOSE. YOU CAN THANK THE HARDENING OF THE SURFACE OF YOUR EYE'S LENS. The light is focused behind the retina OLD EYE Lens hardened by age and unable to change shape Light 1 in 2 YOUNG EYE The light is focused on the retina Lens thickens to focus on near objects AMERICANS 80 AND OLDER WHO HAVE CATARACTS THAT DETRACT FROM THEIR VISION SOURCES http://www.huffingtonpost.com • http://www.lbl.gov • http://gizmodo.com • http://www.loc.gov http://www.scientificamerican.com • http://www.yourplasticsurgeryguide.com • http://www.nia.nih.gov http://www.osteometer.com • http://www.allaboutvision.com • http://www.statisticbrain.com bestmswprograms.com

The Science of Getting Old

shared by caradelany on Sep 17
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It’s a fact: Nobody lives forever. Aging is unavoidable. But what actually happens when you age? Why does your hair go grey? Why does your skin wrinkle? www.bestmswprograms.com/ has created an ...

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