Concept Check: How DID We Get this OLD?
Although life span has not changed, life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past century,
With rare exceptions, life expectancy has been on the rise in the U.S. It was 47 years in 1900, 68 years in 195v0, and by 2019i it had risen to nearly 79 years. But it fell to 77 in 2020 and dropped further to just over 76 in 2021. (can you think Covid?) Harvard Health.
The causes of aging are still a mystery.Most likely, aging results from an interaction of genetic and the changes listed in the table below: The science of epigenetics also can offer lifestyle factors to further influnce the changes that normally occur with “normal aging”.
Aging occurs when:
Errors occur in copying the genetic blueprint (DNA)
Connective tissue stiffens. Parallel muscle proteins cross link.
Electron – seeking compounds (free radicals) damage cell.
Hormone functions change.
Blood glucose attaches to various blood and body proteins. Occurs in poorly controllled diabetes
The immune system loses some efficiency and fails to recognize foreign substances.
Autoimmunity develops. Immune function cells destroy “self”.
Death is programmed into the cell, e.g. each cell can only divide about 50 times; after that the cell dies and succumbs.
Excess energy intake speeds body breakdown and may even cause premature death. In research, underfed animals live longer by calorie restriction. Diet can slow down some of these processes?
Source: Gordon M. Wardlaw. Contemporary Nutrition: Issues and Insights. Page 518-520.
Edited for Food, Facts and Fads by: Sally J. Feltner, MS, PhD
WOW!!! What else could go wrong?
Healthy lifestyles may be found to alleviate some or all of these body processes.
FOOD, FACTS and FADS 