All About Aging, difficulties brought by aging

The average age span is about 77 years for men and 80 for women. This extended lifespan combined with people’s desire to have active senior years has spurned interest to learn all about aging. Aging begins at the moment of birth though signs and symptoms of aging that are considered problematic don’t become apparent until people reach their 30’s and 40’s. By the time some people are 30 they begin to see outward signs of the aging process such as wrinkling. During the 30’s and 40’s people may be at their best cognitively. It isn’t until the late 50’s that some people begin to have difficulties with some cognitive tasks. Even then, changes are hardly noticeable.

Sensory changes start to show up gradually as well. Hearing, smell, taste and vision all begin to show slight declines as people age. However, because people all experience aging differently it’s difficult to offer a time schedule that directs all about aging with precision. Nearly 1/3 of adults have some hearing loss by the time they are 60. In particular, older adults may have trouble detecting high-pitched sounds. They may also have more difficulty discerning conversation in a room with a lot of background music.

By the time adults reach 30-40 they may begin to experience problems with their vision. Though not all people will experience diminished vision, many people report that they have trouble reading and that they need to hold books and newspaper farther away from their bodies. Peripheral vision may also be compromised and eyes may need more time to adjust to changes in lighting.

As people age they are more vulnerable to broken bones because bones may become thinner. Women who are menopausal may be especially vulnerable. Joints and ligaments begin to stiffen as we age because there is a loss of elasticity. In addition, elderly people become more susceptible to tooth loss, heart disease and cancers. While aging is inevitable, the good news is that research all about aging has learned that lifestyle factors like diet and exercise and good medical care can extend the average life span and in the process improve the quality of life as well.

Comments are closed.