Age-related declines are a gradual or sudden decrease, overall slowness, and difficulty in mental and physical abilities that occur as people age. These age-related declines can include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes.
Age-related mental declines
- Memory: Forgetting things more often, especially important appointments
- Language: Difficulty expressing oneself or understanding others
- Judgment: Difficulty making decisions or solving problems
- Executive function: Difficulty navigating, finding your way around, or behaving appropriately
- Processing speed: Taking longer to answer the phone or react to stop signs
Age-related physical declines
- Motor skills: Excessive tripping, falls, or tremors
- Appetite: Decreased appetite
- Sleep: Sleep disturbances
- Incontinence: Loss of bladder control
- Hygiene: Poor hygiene
Other age-related changes
- Personality changes, such as losing interest in things you once enjoyed
- Mental health issues
Factors that may contribute to age-related declines:
- Lack of exercise
- Low-fiber diet
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Certain medications, such as diuretics and iron supplements
- Medical conditions, such as diabetes
Examining trends in age-related declines
A study published in Nature Aging applied a new approach to examining trends in people’s functioning cognitive, locomotor, psychological, and sensory capacities, or in other words, age-related declines. Their analysis of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging revealed significant improvements in levels of physical and mental health functioning among older adults residing in England compared to previous generations.
“These improvements were large,” said John Beard, MBBS, PhD, Irene Diamond Professor of Aging in Health Policy and Management in the Butler Columbia Aging Center of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and author of the study. For example, a 68-year-old born in 1950 had a similar capacity to a 62-year-old born a decade earlier, and those born in 1940 had better functioning than those born in 1930 or 1920. Beard noted, “If we had compared someone born in 1950 with someone born in 1920, we would have likely observed even greater improvements.”
The researchers conducted a similar analysis utilizing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study which revealed similar trends. However, this analysis was limited by a shorter follow-up period compared to the English study.
Take it with a grain of salt
According to the researchers, advances in sanitation, nutrition, and education over the twentieth century are likely to have played important roles in these improvements. Additionally, medical breakthroughs like joint replacements and better treatments for chronic conditions are also suggested to be more than likely contributing factors. Although the findings are signs of hope, the researchers caution that these observations are for a specific country for a specific time, as such these trends may not been seen in other countries or across the whole of the population.
“We were surprised by just how large these improvements were, particularly when comparing people born after World War Two with earlier-born groups.” said Beard. “But there is nothing to say we will continue to see the same improvements moving forward, and changes such as the increasing prevalence of obesity may even see these trends reverse. It is also likely that more advantaged groups will have experienced greater gains than others. But overall, the trends were very strong and suggest that, for many people, 70 really may be the new 60.”
“This is a powerful article. It shows that intrinsic capacity — what really matters to people as they age — is inherently modifiable. With this evidence, we see that medical science can enhance intrinsic capacity, providing a hopeful message for the future,” said aging expert Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois
What if aging didn’t have to suck?
Dr. Ronald Klatz, MD., DO., medical scientist, innovator, President and founder of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) poses an important question – what if aging didn’t have to suck?
What if aging could be intervened upon, which in turn created longer, healthier, and happier lifespans? Anti-aging technology represents a shift in medicine with the goal to create longer healthspans that will keep you dancing like a longevity warrior.
In today’s busy society, it can be hard to live a perfect life. However, maintaining healthy lifestyle choices has been shown time and time again to be essential for living a happy, healthy, and long life. While there may not be a shortcut to extending life and healthspan, as of yet, there are steps that can be taken now to help promote healthy longevity.
No, the aging process does not have to suck.
Modern anti-aging technologies will make it possible for you to dance your way across the graves of the cynics.
Don’t sit down and accept age-related declines as an inevitability. Stay active, alert, and educated. Stand upright and keep moving because the disinformation peddlers can’t bury you if you won’t stop moving, that’s the key.
Anti-aging and regenerative medicine are all about having time to enjoy your life, to enjoy your friends and family, to live, love, and accomplish what you want to do on this planet before you check out; and that’s what anti-aging medicine has to offer.
Dr. Klatz, senior editor of WHN, passionately believes that everyone healthy today can achieve a 120-healthy lifespan by adopting the A4M Anti-Aging lifestyle.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
This article was written by TJ Webber at the WHN News Desk.
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/study-finds-slowing-age-related-declines-older-adults
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00741-w
https://www.a4m.com/podcast-episode-58-dr-ronald-klatz.html
https://worldhealth.net/news/tips-healthy-longevity-dr-ron-klatz/
