Why Do We Age?
As time passes, aging is a natural process, and escaping it is impossible. However, altering the aging process can delay it, providing the opportunity to not only extend lifespan but also enhance overall well-being.
It is crucial to shift our perspective on aging. Research suggests viewing it as a disease, one that can be cured, rather than perceiving it as an inevitable natural process. A drastic change in this mindset has the potential to significantly increase human life expectancy and mitigate the effects of aging.
Without a change in mindset, medical interventions can only marginally extend our lives by a year or two. While we are familiar with the visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and gray hair, understanding the underlying reasons is essential. Aging involves inheriting two types of information from our parents, influenced by both environment and time.
The Genetic Code
Our genetic code represents the first type of information, digital in nature. The second type is the epigenome, a system within our cells that regulates gene activation and deactivation. When around 20,000 genes are turned on or off, the cell is assigned its role.
Over time, however, the information on the epigenome fades, similar to a scratched CD. As a result, the genome forgets its function, contributing to the aging process.
Can We Avoid Aging?
There is no biological law dictating that we must inevitably grow old. In laboratory settings, researchers have successfully reversed the aging process, showcasing the potential for changing the genome within our bodies.
Our lifestyle choices influence this process. Correct practices can slow down the aging clock, as evidenced by tests on blood and saliva samples.
What Makes a Difference?
Observations of people with longer lifespans reveal habits that contribute to a slower aging process. These habits include maintaining a low-calorie diet, reducing meal frequency, and engaging in physical exercise.
How Do These Habits Slow Down Aging?
Scientists believe that these lifestyle factors can enhance natural defenses against disease and aging. Sensations like cold or heat, hunger, and shortness of breath can trigger internal immunity. Certain genes control epigenes, and with the right diet and fasting, it’s possible to slow down aging.
Diseases Related To Old Age
Old age is often associated with diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, which become primary causes of aging.
Old Age as a Disease
Suggesting a different perspective on old age, treating it as a disease, prompts the question of why. Aging is a process similar to diseases, extending over time and leading to disability or death. Although aging is not officially recognized as a disease, research indicates its treatability, offering the potential to slow down or even prevent it. Despite this, there is reluctance in the medical field to prescribe drugs for aging, even though they could potentially contribute to many years of healthy life.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, aging is not an inevitable fate but a condition that can be treated and managed. While the natural aging process is unavoidable, there exists the possibility of delaying it, providing an avenue not only to extend life but also to enhance overall well-being.
Shifting our perspective on aging is crucial. Research suggests considering aging as a treatable disease rather than an unavoidable aspect of life. This shift in mindset holds the potential to significantly increase human life expectancy and alleviate the adverse effects of aging.
Without embracing this change in perspective, medical interventions can only marginally extend life by a year or two. Understanding the underlying reasons for aging involves recognizing the influence of two types of inherited information: the digital genetic code and the epigenome regulating gene activation and deactivation.
Diseases commonly linked to old age, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, become primary causes of aging. Despite research indicating the treatability of aging and the potential to slow down or prevent it, there is reluctance in the medical field to prescribe drugs for aging, even though they could contribute to many years of healthy life. This reluctance calls for a broader acceptance of a paradigm shift in viewing old age and exploring innovative approaches to promote healthy aging and longevity.
