Ageing

Definition

Definition of Ageing
Ageing is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline. Reaction time, for example, may slow with age, while knowledge of world events and wisdom may expand. Research shows that even late in life, potential exists for physical, mental, and social growth and development. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions. Roughly 100,000 people worldwide die each day of age-related causes.

Age is measured chronologically, and a person's birthday is often an important event. However the term "ageing" is somewhat ambiguous. Distinctions may be made between "universal ageing" (age changes that all people share) and "probabilistic ageing" (age changes that may happen to some, but not all people as they grow older including diseases such as type two diabetes). Chronological ageing may also be distinguished from "social ageing" (cultural age-expectations of how people should act as they grow older) and "biological ageing" (an organism's physical state as it ages).

There is also a distinction between "proximal ageing" (age-based effects that come about because of factors in the recent past) and "distal ageing" (age-based differences that can be traced back to a cause early in person's life, such as childhood poliomyelitis).

Symptoms

Symptoms of Ageing
There are many different signs and symptoms of aging. Most of these develop gradually and are very diverse, but it should be remembered that it is not possible to diagnose aging based on isolated signs and symptoms alone. Different people possess widely varying degrees of these signs and symptoms. Some of these include:

1. An overall decrease in energy and vigor
2. The tendency to become easily tired
3. Changes in sleeping patterns
4. Decreased memory
5. Behavioural changes
6. Skin and hair changes such as wrinkles, brown spots on the skin, loss of skin elasticity, and hair loss affecting the limbs
7. Changes in hair colour
8. A loss or decrease in vision and hearing
9. Changes in bowel function
10. Decrease in libido
11. Sexual dysfunction
12. Urinary problems such as incontinence, dribbling, and changes in frequency of urination
13. Changes in menstrual cycle
14. Abdominal obesity and inability to lose weight

Causes

Causes of Ageing
Each cell in your body has a countdown clock that limits the number of replications that it can undergo. This clock is the telomere, a region of repetitive DNA at the end of each chromosome. Each time the cells divide a part of the telomere is lost. When enough telomere is gone the division starts cutting into the chromosome itself. Important genetic information is lost and the cell dies. When enough cells die, you age and die.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Ageing
Aging Skin Diseases provides the clinician with an encyclopedia of geriatric dermatoses that can be used on rounds or in a reference environment. It provides a structured illustrated review of the various lesions encountered, which will make this an invaluable reference resource for all physicians dealing with older skin. It also places special emphasis on illnesses originating in other organ systems that are made manifest on the skin and often complicate the diagnostic and therapeutic picture.

Treatment

Treatment of Ageing
New innovations in skin rejuvenation continue to develop, ranging from topically applied "cosmeceuticals" to new surgical techniques. A thorough understanding of how your skin changes as you age and how the sun affects your skin can help you decide with your doctor what treatment is best.

Prognosis

Prognosis of Ageing
Consult with your doctor.

Prevention

Prevention of Ageing
Several drugs and food supplements have been shown to retard or reverse the biological effects of ageing in animal models; none has yet been proven to do so in humans. Resveratrol, a chemical found in red grapes, has been shown to extend the lifespan of yeast by 60%, worms and flies by 30% and one species of fish by almost 60%. It does not extend the lifespan of healthy mice but delays the onset of age-related disease and infirmity.