What is Old Age
And who decides when it starts
And who decides when it starts
I once asked my 5 year old granddaughter what she thought happened as we became old. She pondered for a moment, then replied “Bits start to fall off you”
Some writers approach the subject like this:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Dylan Thomas — Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that happen to a man
Leon Trotsky — Diary in Exile
Old age refers to ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings, and is thus the end of the human life cycle.
Elderly people often have limited regenerative abilities and are more susceptible to disease, syndromes, injuries and sickness than younger adults. The organic process of Aging is called senescence, the medical study of the aging process is called gerontology, and the study of diseases that afflict the elderly is called Geriatrics
Old age comprises the later part of life; the period of life after youth and middle age, usually with reference to deterioration. At what age old age begins cannot be universally defined because it differs according to the context. The United Nations has agreed that 65+ years may be usually denoted as old age and this is the first attempt at an international definition of old age. However, for its study of old age in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) set 55 as the beginning of old age.
It is generally now accepted that the maximum human lifespan is an average age of 115, with an absolute upper limit of 125 years.
Old age — one definition
An age in years of a particular individual which reaches or surpasses the average life span of human being.
Old age may be regarded as an legitimate cause of death in the UK for a person over the age of 80, when no significant pathology or cause of death can be found after a thoroughly investigated postmortem examination.
Segen’s Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Getting older means getting used to changes in your body, both physical and mental. From age-related hearing loss to cognitive aging, here’s what is going on as the years pass.
Aging in the body
The physical changes in your body are often the most apparent as you age. Wrinkles are a classic sign of aging, although people actually develop wrinkles all throughout life. Older skin is less elastic and thinner and is therefore more prone to developing wrinkles.
Your heart also gets slower as you age. It’s important to maintain good cardiovascular health as you get older, because your ticker needs more attention than ever! Going on daily walks and sticking to a diet full of fruits and vegetables are good steps to keep your heart pumping as it should.
“These old bones” isn’t just a turn of phrase — your bones also need attention as you get older! Bones shrink over time and lose density, which makes them more susceptible to breakage. Sometimes people may even lose an inch or two of height as their spine shrinks slightly.
Osteoporosis is a big problem for older people, especially women, so make sure to take calcium and vitamin D supplements and incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.
Your ears are also not immune to aging — age-related hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions that affect older people. Known medically as presbycusis, age-related hearing loss often manifests in both ears and is a gradual hearing loss: many people do not realize they have it until they experience major hearing loss.
Age-related hearing loss is mainly caused by the inner ear losing function. It is not possible to prevent age-related hearing loss, but you can avoid compounding it by being vigilant about your ear protection and avoiding overexposure to loud noise.
Old age means many things to many people, but there are common unavoidable consequences that the body meets as part of the passage of time, although the effects of these can be ameliorated and delayed by a few modifications to lifestyle, diet and mental attitude.
How we can individually tackle the various signs and effects of old age will be explored in future articles.