Aging Biomarkers

Aging is a daunting eventuality many of us struggle with. However, all is not as negative as it seems to be. Gaining wisdom and experience, greater fulfillment, and a better quality of living are what most people with advancing age experience as well. The function of aging, therefore, lies in how we embrace it and what we make of it.

What Is Aging?

It is hard to set a comprehensive definition of aging, since it is experienced at different times and in different ways in different people. A generalized explanation could be the slowing down of faculties in the body, compromised functioning of organs, and a set of psychological issues that accompany the biological processes. It is difficult to say when the process really begins, not only because of the varying age of onset in different people but also because it is such a gradual process that it is not really noticed until some stark changes occur that lead you to say “oh, I feel old!”.

Chronological and Biological Age

Chronological age is the age as we know it in terms of numbers – the years, months, and days we have lived. Biological age reflects the age of the body. We notice that some people look ten years younger than they are, while some age so rapidly that they look old even in their prime. Aging is concerned largely with biological age. Aging and its rate are influenced by a range of genetic and environmental factors, which accounts for the vast difference in the aging process between any two individuals.

Symptoms of Aging

Although the signs of aging show up only gradually, Dr. Adonis notes that there are some universal consequences we can expect. Bone mass stops growing and regeneration is retarded around the age of 30. The next to be affected is brain function, and we can expect a decrease in the capacity of learning, although it is extremely early to be facing any sort of memory loss. Hormonal changes are a significant outcome of aging – andropause and menopause being the most significant milestones we experience in this process. Impaired vision, balding or whitening of hair, and loss of hearing are some common signs of aging, while other associated disorders include cardiovascular issues, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.

Aging and Longevity

Statistics show that in the coming decades, the population over the age of 60 will double. Even now, people above the age of 60 are greater in number than children under the age of 5. As we are slowly leaning toward an older population, we are also noticing the pace of aging speed up drastically. This means that we are leaning towards a less agile population in slow, steady steps.

Combating Aging

Although awareness and consciousness in terms of health and wellness have grown consistently, there is still the tendency among people to look at aging only after they have experienced the first signs. Conventional medicine, in such cases, focuses mainly on the treatment of geriatric conditions. This merely skims the surface of the problem and does nothing to manage the aging process.

Functional medicine uses specialized laboratories that screens of hundreds of markers in order to predict the state and rate of aging as well as its complications accurately. Screening of these biomarkers enables an understanding of the internal processes and provides an insight into the kind of interventions that can be used to target conditions like inflammation, oxidation, glycation, and DNA damage. The approach lends to a much healthier aging process and, in turn, offers a better quality of life. 

Healthy aging relies on two major factors – functional ability and well-being. Functional abilities include caring for yourself, maintaining a daily routine independently, mobility, making healthy social associations, and being able to contribute to the family and society at large. This requires not just individual capacity but also a conducive environment.

Being able to slow down aging and manage it constructively are not choices we can make on impulse or look to achieve when we realize it might be time. Dr. A repeatedly stresses on the importance of well-being and choices made in youth. Those who are overweight in their early years are likely to experience compromised organ function earlier, as are those who smoke and drink excessively. On the other hand, those who have led a more active social life maintain agility of the mind and body and those who have worked to enhance their memory consciously are more likely to experience a more delayed aging process. 

Tips for Healthy Aging:

Enjoying an active life can work wonders in improving the health and youth of mind and body.

• Eat and drink right – modify and maintain your diet around your body type and its requirements. Eat as much natural and organic food as possible, avoid processed foods, and limit your intake of salt, sugar, and oil. Drink lot of water to flush out the toxins from your body. Avoid excessive drinking of liquids such as carbonated beverages and alcohol that that stress out your system.
• Keep learning – it keeps the mind active. Learn a new skill, and keep practicing those you have already acquired. Languages, music, dance, and mental challenges are great for keeping the brain active.
• Sleep well – sleep is critical in regenerating the body and mind. Develop a well-structured sleep routine that allows adequate rest.
• Avoid stress – stress causes a rapid increase in the rate of aging. Minimize stress and inculcate sound practices to overcome stress using a good diet and exercise program. Meditation, music therapy, and prayer are wonderful ways to keep stress at bay.
• Exercise – Exercise regularly to keep your body healthy, which in turn will retard the aging process. As the age-old wisdom goes, a healthy body harbors a healthy mind.
• Form relationships – Socializing is extremely important to enjoy a better emotional state and make you feel worthwhile. Maintaining relationships within and outside the family will also help fight loneliness.