Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Americans are living longer than ever. Right now, nearly 58 million people are 65 years old or older and research shows 65-year-olds can expect to live another 18.9 years, on average. If you want to live a long life, aging is part of the journey. But just how do our bodies age and what can we do to slow it down?
Everyone ages, but not everyone ages the same way. At almost 70-years-old, Maureen doesn’t let her age slow her down.
“To me, age, it’s a number. It’s what you allow it to be,” said Maureen Smith.
Scientists studied proteins in tissue from people between ages 14 and 68. They found aging might start earlier than you think.
“Things start happening in your cells as early as your early 30’s,” said Tom LaRocca, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Healthspan Biology Lab, Colorado State University.
The aging process seemed to speed up the most between ages 45 and 55. But interestingly, their study found different body parts don’t age at the same pace. The spleen and adrenal gland showed signs of aging at around 30. At 40 to 45, your lymph nodes begin to age, at 50, it’s your intestines, and 55 your lungs. The aorta saw the biggest changes in protein levels around the ages of 45 and 55. In your 60’s it’s your plasma and muscles that start to feel the effects.
Good news — you can slow aging with smart habits.
Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, folate, vitamin c, vitamin a, and curcumin, avoid smoking, alcohol, and stress, keep blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in check, get enough sleep, and stay active. Adopting these habits between 45 and 50 could add up to 10 healthy years of life at the cellular level.
The study authors say their findings may have implications for future research into treatments for chronic conditions related to aging. This could add decades to both a person’s lifespan, and health span.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.
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Sources:
https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-healthy-aging/
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/can-we-slow-aging
