Every one passes through the aging process. Most of us are not aware of the actual symptoms, and causes of aging. Most of gerontologists are searching the ways it can be prevented. The era of gene editing holds out hope that it is possible to prevent or slow down the process of aging. Do you think it is possible to treat aging like any other disease, and can it ever be prevented? You are most welcome to share your views and opinion.
Aging is an altimate fate, no one can deny that, but we can be healthy as we reach that stage of life. The most important thing is " Having a healthy food", doing excercises or practicing sports, is also good and finally (psychological comfortness) which is the main reason for being healthy and long - aged person
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary please read this basic article by me, its useful for many people.
Article Aging: Basic Concept
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary seen with the eyes of a chemist, the answer is:
oxidation and calcification.
It is a really interesting question, I really like to hear about this from experienced peoples.
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary
Aging is not a disease but it is a gradual and spontaneous changes occur during the human life. There are several major theories that can explain it. Also, there are several attempts to slow the progression of aging by anti-aging medication. Please, find the attached file which contain more details.
Regards
Arbind K. Choudhary
Dear Researcher,
Hello. One adjective that can be used to describe the topic of your discussion is 'interesting'. I, say that because different people from different professions will attempt to take part in this discussion differently.
I am a behavioral scientist and would look at the topic of your discussion from that viewpoint only. In behavioral sciences it is usually said that ageing is more of a psychological phenomenon. A few years ago, I read a book (Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish) where it was said that ageing starts with complacency. Then, one of my professors in the college, Professor S. Mohanty, a noted behavioral scientist used to say that ageing starts when one believes that the best part of her/ his life is over.
The next part of your question is highly absorbing. Here, you have asked about the causes of ageing. In our Indian sacred texts, sun is considered as a God and as the only visible God. It has been written in those texts that we age with respect to time. Time is measured by the sun. Thus, whether we do something or sit idle throughout our lives, we are going to age. The sun will continue to rise every morning and set in the evening and that is the reason for ageing.
Thirdly, you have asked whether it can be slowed down or can it be prevented. Well, it can surely be slowed down. If we can free ourselves from measuring ourselves against time, we can slow down our ageing process. A regulated life, healthy diet, happiness etc. will help us to remain content with ourselves and not consider time for measuring our success. Then ageing can be slowed down. But it surely cannot be prevented. This is because everything that has been created, has to reach a declining phase and then get 'vanished', so that it can come back in another form. After all life is a cycle of ageing, then getting 'vanished' and then coming back.
Sincere apologies for such a non-scientific answer.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Anamitra.
Deare Dr. Arbind K. Choudhary and RG members, aging is not a actually disease by itself. However, it can be slowed down (can turn back your biological clock and help you live longer) by several means.
Slowing Down Aging
According to John Hopkins Medicine (https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-aging-2224347#:~:text=Other%20aging%20accumulates%20over%20time,Cellular%20aging.)
the followings are solutions for slowing down aging.
- Eat well. Within the past few decades, processed foods have become an increasingly larger part of our diets. Added sugar, salt, and fat are all wreaking havoc on our bodies, leading to a multitude of serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Do yourself a favor and eat well. As a general rule of thumb, if you have to open it to eat it, you shouldn't be eating it. Read labels. Cut out sugary drinks and white starches, and incorporate more fruits, vegetables, fiber, and lean proteins.
- Don't smoke. If you're a smoker, you've likely struggled with quitting, but don't give up. Quitting smoking improves circulation and blood pressure, and drastically reduces your risk of developing cancer.
- Exercise. You might not be meeting the recommended 30 minutes of activity a day, 5 days a week, but the good news is that even just 15 minutes of moderate activity a day can improve longevity. Walk the dog, ride a bike or take a fitness class. Any activity is better than none at all.
- Socialize. Socialization keeps us young and does wonders for longevity. Maintain good, healthy relationships with others. Stay connected to the ones you love and make it a point to meet new people.
- Get sleep. Ignore the saying "you'll sleep when you're dead." You need sleep, regardless of the relationship you have with it. Get a good night of sleep every night and you'll reduce your risk of heart disease and lower your stress levels.
- Don't stress. Stress, anger and holding onto grudges can be very damaging. If you work to reduce your stress levels now, you'll thank yourself later. Incorporate meditation or journaling into your day-to-day and give yourself a break.
Causes of Agings
please try to see the following articles that clearly disclosures the cause of agings
Article Which Is the Most Significant Cause of Aging?
Article Aging—Causes and Defenses
https://www.britannica.com/science/aging-life-process/Internal-and-external-causes-of-aging
Dear Hom Nath Chalise Thank you for sharing the basic concept of aging. I think it may be useful for readers curious to know about aging process.
Dear Frank T. Edelmann I do agree with your answer. I think both factors enhance the process of aging.
Dear Yasser Fakri Mustafa I do agree with your opinion. However, the said attached file is missing.
Dear Anamitra Roy Your explanations as a behavioral scientist appear highly interesting. I appreciate your optimism that aging may be slowed down. Thank you so much!
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary
I am so sorry, this mistake is now corrected.
Regards
1. Damage accumulates in DNA
Our DNA is the genetic code that is passed between cells. Aging leads to an increase in the errors that can occur in the process. These errors accumulate in cells.
This phenomenon is known as genetic instability, and it is especially common with DNA errors in stem cells, from which all other cells with special functions are formed.
Genetic instability can threaten the function of stem cells. When bugs accumulate, these cells can become cancerous.
2. Chromosomes wear out
DNA strands have lugs that protect our chromosomes - like plastic tubes at the end of our laces.
They are called telomeres. As we age, these protective buffers wear out and the chromosomes lose their protection. This means that they are not reproduced correctly, which causes problems.
Researchers have linked the destruction of telomeres to diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and aplastic anemia, a serious immunological disease.
However, scientists have already learned to increase levels of telomerase, an enzyme that increases telomere length.
Experiments on mice have shown that increasing telomere length can prolong the life of rodents.
3. Cell behavior is impaired
Genes are expressed in the body: thousands of genes in a particular cell determine what that cell can do - whether it can behave, for example, like a cell in the body or brain.
Time and lifestyle influences how these "instructions" are given. Cells may not behave the way they should.
4. Cells stop renewing
To prevent the accumulation of damaged components in our cells, the human body is able to periodically renew the set of cells.
However, this ability is lost with age, and cells begin to accumulate useless or toxic proteins - some of which lead to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, as well as the formation of cataracts.
5. Cell metabolism worsens
Over time, cells lose their ability to process substances like fats or sugar.
This can lead to the development of diabetes, since the body can no longer absorb the nutrients entering the cells.
Age-related diabetes often occurs for this very reason - the body of older people is not able to process everything they eat.
6. Mitochondria stop working
The mitochondrion is a permanent component of the cell that supplies it with energy, but over the years it loses its effectiveness. Malfunctioning mitochondria can harm a person's DNA.
Some scientists say that improving mitochondrial function can increase the lifespan of mammals.
According to a study published in June in the scientific journal Nature, scientists were able to prevent the formation of folds in mice by improving their mitochondria.
7. Cells turn into "zombies"
If a cell is seriously damaged, then it stops working so as not to produce new damaged cells. It does not reproduce, but it does not die either.
The so-called zombie cells can affect nearby healthy cells and spread the infection throughout the body.
The number of such cells increases over the years. In experiments with mice, removing zombie cells helped slow the aging process.
8. Stem cells lose energy
Loss of regenerative capacity is one of the most obvious signs of aging.
Stem cells get tired and lose their ability to regenerate.
Recent research shows that stem cell rejuvenation can slow the signs of aging in the body.
9. Communication between cells is impaired
The cells are in constant communication with each other, but this ability is lost over time.
This leads to inflammatory processes, which further impede intercellular communication.
As a result, the cells lose sensitivity to the presence of pathogenic substances and malignant cells.
Regards, Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich
Dear Beemnet Mengesha Kassahun Thank you so much for providing a number useful references related to the ongoing discussion on the process of aging. In fact these are valuable literature, worth helping to slow down the aging process.
Dear Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich Thank you so much for providing a deeper insight into the causes of aging from cellular and molecular biology point of view. I think these unraveled mysteries may pave the way for slowing down and/or preventing the aging process in future.
Aging is an altimate fate, no one can deny that, but we can be healthy as we reach that stage of life. The most important thing is " Having a healthy food", doing excercises or practicing sports, is also good and finally (psychological comfortness) which is the main reason for being healthy and long - aged person
Aging is an irreversible process that cannot be stopped but can be delayed
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary in any case we should accept our age and not try to look younger by taking anti-aging products etc.
Dear Diana A. Ali Hussein J. Hussein Frank T. Edelmann Thank you each one for individual free, frank and possibly fair opinion regarding the process of aging. I appreciate each of you.
... Although we are far from understanding the biological basis of aging, researchers suggest that targeting the aging process itself could ameliorate many age-related pathologies. Senescence is a cellular response characterized by a stable growth arrest and other phenotypic alterations that include a proinflammatory secretome. Senescence plays roles in normal development, maintains tissue homeostasis, and limits tumor progression. However, senescence has also been implicated as a major cause of age-related disease. In this regard, recent experimental evidence has shown that the genetic or pharmacological ablation of senescent cells extends life span and improves health span. ... McHugh, D., & Gil, J. (2018). Senescence and aging: Causes, consequences, and therapeutic avenues. Journal of Cell Biology, 217(1), 65-77.
... The effects of the aging process itself have been exaggerated, and the modifying effects of diet, exercise, personal habits, and psychosocial factors underestimated. Within the category of normal aging, a distinction can be made between usual aging, in which extrinsic factors heighten the effects of aging alone, and successful aging, in which extrinsic factors play a neutral or positive role. Research on the risks associated with usual aging and strategies to modify them should help elucidate how a transition from usual to successful aging can be facilitated... Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1987). Human aging: usual and successful. Science, 237(4811), 143-149.
... aging atrophy seems to be due to a reduction in both number and size of muscle fibers, mainly of type 2 (fast-twitch), and is to some extent caused by a slowly progressive neurogenic process... Evans, W. J., & Lexell, J. (1995). Human aging, muscle mass, and fiber type composition. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 50(Special_Issue), 11-16.
Aging in the biological sense is a natural process, you can be old physically but mentally be young.
Ageing is the natural process with progressed age and everyone should face.
I think we will see interesting developments in the future. Please see this useful link entitled Lifespan – is 120 really the new normal?
https://www.longevity.technology/lifespan-is-120-really-the-new-normal/
Aging is a normal scientific, physiological, natural, and logical process. Maybe slowed down for a while but never can be prevented totally. In fact, it is a need for social, ecological, and environmental balance also.
Aging is actually oxidation.
Every cell and every organism ages sooner or later. But why is this so? Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg have now discovered for the first time a protein that represents a central switching point in the aging process. It controls the life span of an individual -- from the fly to the human being. This opens up new possibilities for developing therapies against age-related diseases.
Oxidative stress causes cells and entire organisms to age. If reactive oxygen species accumulate, this causes damage to the DNA as well as changes in the protein molecules and lipids in the cell. The cell ultimately loses its functionality and dies. Over time, the tissue suffers and the body ages. "The theory of oxidative stress or the accumulation of reactive oxygen species as the cause of aging has existed since the 1950s," says Peter Krammer of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). "So far, however, the details of this process were unclear."
In fact, reactive oxygen species do more than just damage the body. For example, they are essential for the T-cells of the immune system to become active. DKFZ researchers led by Krammer and Karsten Gülow* have now discovered the key regulator that is responsible for shifting the sensitive balance from vital to harmful amounts of reactive oxygen molecules and thus accelerating the aging process: A protein molecule called TXNIP (thioredoxin-interacting protein).
One way in which the body disposes of harmful reactive oxygen species is their conversion by the enzyme thioredoxin-1 (TRX-1). TRX-1 has been proven to play a role in protecting DNA from oxidative stress and slowing down aging processes. Its antagonist TXNIP inhibits thioredoxin-1 and thus ensures that the reactive oxygen molecules are retained.
The DKFZ researchers led by Krammer and Gülow now wanted to know whether more TXNIP is formed in the body with increasing age, thereby undermining the protective mechanism against oxidative stress. To this end, they first compared T cells from the blood of a group of over 55-year-old volunteers with the T cells of younger blood donors, who were between 20 and 25 years old. In fact, it turned out that the cells of older subjects produce significantly more TXNIP. The DKFZ scientists have also observed similar findings in other human cell and tissue types.
The researchers also found out that more TXNIP is produced in the fly Drosophila with increasing age. In order to test whether TXNIP is actually responsible for aging, they bred flies that produce significantly more TXNIP than their relatives as well as flies in which TXNIP synthesis is greatly reduced. "Flies that produced more TXNIP lived on average much shorter, while flies with less TXNIP had a longer average life," sums up Tina Oberacker, who was responsible for the fly experiments.
"TRX-1 and its opponent TXNIP are highly conserved in the course of evolution; they hardly differ between flies and humans," explains Krammer. It can therefore be assumed that the two proteins perform similar functions in flies and humans. If more TXNIP is produced with increasing age, this means that TRX is gradually switched off with its protection function. This leads to more oxidative stress, which damages cells and tissue and eventually causes them to die.
Krammer is convinced that TXNIP is a key regulator for aging. "Scientists have found hundreds of genes that are somehow related to the aging process," says the DKFZ researcher summarizing the results. "But it is enough to switch off TXNIP to delay aging. Similarly, aging can be accelerated if we get the cells to produce TXNIP. "And that makes it an interesting candidate to intervene in the aging process in the future."
Aging is a natural part of life that occurs in the individuals. We cannot stop the passage of time but we can reduce the risks of the diseases that become more likely as we age. We can improving our quality of life through improve the diet and maintain a healthy weight, practice stress management, get quality sleep, and build strong social connections. In my opinion, it is important to think about not only how long we will live, but how well we will live.
Dear Makarim Qassim Md Rabiul Alam Gopal Shukla Thank you each one for interpreting the causes and management of aging process. I value your individual opinion.
Dear Zia Ullah Khan Thank you very much for analyzing the causes of aging. In fact, Frank T. Edelmann early in the discussion opined oxidation as the major culprit. It is true that oxidative stress leads to so many cellular, chromosomal and DNA damages, ultimately speeding up the process of aging. Thank you so much!
Dear D A Gayan Nayanajith Thank you so much for analyzing the causes and effects of aging process very critically. Your comprehensive analysis is highly appreciated.
Dear Frank T. Edelmann Thank you so much for providing the useful link to Lifespan – is 120 really the new normal? The number of increasing brethren above 100 is indicates that aging can be slowed down with proper life style, exercise, food habits, and the like. I appreciate your "optimism".
These links of two researches related to the subject, please take a look:
Article The mitophagy activator urolithin A is safe and induces a mo...
Article Measuring biological aging in humans: A quest
Yes It may be possible.....if genes responsible for aging may be suppressed by using gene editing or silencing techniques
Dear M.K. Tripathi Sura Aldewachi Abdulaziz Albannai Adeyemi Oluwole Thank you each one for sharing your valued opinion, and participating in the discussion!
Thanks to all ...very interesting question.... I am thinking this one from my student life.....sure we can do it scientifically but certain regulatory aspects prevent... the research in this area...
Dear Frank T. Edelmann Ali A. Al-Homaidan I appreciate open and frank opinion of each of you. I value each one!
Causes of premature aging. There are a couple of different factors that have a direct effect on how quickly these signs appear on your body.
Smoking
The toxins in cigarette smoke expose your skin to oxidative stress. This causes dryness, wrinkles, and other signs of premature aging.
Sun exposure and tanning
Tanning beds and exposure to the sun penetrate your skin with UV rays. These rays damage the DNA in your skin cells, causing wrinkles.
Genes
There are some very rare genetic conditions that can cause you to show signs of aging in childhood and early puberty. These conditions are called progeria.
Werner syndrome affects 1 in 1 million people. It causes wrinkled skin, graying hair, and balding to develop between 13 and 30 years old.
Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome is an even rarer condition, affecting 1 in 8 million babies.
Children with this syndrome don’t grow as quickly as others in their age group. They also experience thin limbs and baldness. The average life expectancy for children living with Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome is 13 years.
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/premature-aging#causes
Aging is a natural process which everyone will undergo. We only hope for good health and happiness while aging
The Causes of Aging
Collagen breakdown. Represents 75% of the skin's dry weight. ...
Photo Defence. Repeated exposure to ultraviolet light (UV radiation) from the sun accounts for almost 90% of symptoms of premature skin ageing, skin damage and skin cancer. ...
Oxidation. ...
Inflammation. ...
Glycation.
https://www.ocosmedics.com/article/causes-of-aging
Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi Many thanks for highlighting the causes that hasten the process of aging. It is perhaps implicit that addressing the causes can effectively slow down the process of aging.
Arbind K. Choudhary please also see this useful Open Access article entitled
Which Is the Most Significant Cause of Aging?
Dear Frank T. Edelmann Very informative article dealing with what kind of synergism exists among causes of aging themselves, and among the factors worth potential for slowing down the process of aging. Thank you so much!
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary I'm convinced that life expectancy has greatly increased through modern medicine. Our natural lifespan would be only 38 years! Please see these interesting articles about this aspect:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7785761/Humans-genetically-hardwired-live-38-YEARS.html
Dear Frank T. Edelmann The news article reflects DNA methylation to be the main cause of aging. I think the controlling the set of genes that regulate DNA methylation can be a possible strategy to slow down the process of aging.
Aging is a natural process but more tension and extra dieting is may cause of early aging.
Dear Faraed Salman Thank you for sharing your opinion. Actually, Sura Aldewachi
has earlier mentioned the same link!
Dear Aijaz Panhwar Your opinion that tension and extra dieting accelerates the aging process is also justified to a greater degree. Thank you!
Please look at these article and link
Article Which Is the Most Significant Cause of Aging?
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/dementia-not-normal-aging.html
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/july/anti-aging
Dear Lamia Al-Naama Thank you so much for participating in the discussion, and sharing your views through attached documents. I think these are important resources!
Dear Anwar A. Abdulla Thank you so much for sharing your views. In fact, one of your attachments Article Which Is the Most Significant Cause of Aging?
has already been shared in the ongoing discussion notably by Frank T. Edelmann and Lamia Al-Naama .
An interesting discussion is going on. Thus far the discussion has been centered around the causes of aging. A few participants also touched as to how it can be slowed down. However, I think that "Symptom" part is still untouched!
Dear Anwar A. Abdulla I think that Arbind K. Choudhary is absolutely right in that you should check at least the most recent answers to a thread in order to avoid repetitive posts!
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary I'm wondering if the term "symptoms" in your original question and your last answer is a good one. Doesn' "symptoms" imply that aging is a disease?
Dear, Arbind K. Choudhary,
As we konw that the aging is not disease, thus you say it has symptoms. The symptoms related to the disease cases. But the aging is a normal physiological case, every one passes through it.
With my apologizing Sir.
One cannot stop or delay aging, but all the diseases are preventable. Everyone can live to over one hundred without any illness, losing any senses, and losing any motor skills (you can be as swift at 100 years as if you are still in your 20s):
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nnc2.ark:/13960/t1sf3j34q
Dear Frank T. Edelmann Yehya A. Salih
We each age at different rates, and to different degrees, and yet we experience many common effects of aging. Some common signs and symptoms of aging include increased susceptibility to infection, Greater risk of heat stroke or hypothermia, Slight decrease in height as the bones of our spines get thinner and lose some height, and the like. Please see the link given below:
https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/aging.html
Aging can of course not be "prevented", but our lifespan can certainly be further extended in the future. In this context you should check out the amazing works by Ray Kurzweil on longevity.
A Look at Some of Ray Kurzweil's Predictions on Longevity
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2013/04/a-look-at-some-of-ray-kurzweils-predictions-on-longevity/
Dear Ligen Yu Thank you for your valued opinion, and the link provided to this discussion. I value your optimistic views. Thank you once again!
Dear Frank T. Edelmann A very critical analysis of causes of aging. Though it is not possible to address all the causes, addressing even a few one can extend our life span. Let's hope and welcome the forthcoming "Rejuvenation" biotechnology at out door step.
Dear @Rajiv ..Thanks for agreeing to solution oriented opinion by @Diana A. Ali. I do appreciate it.
Whatever may the causes, aging is a physiological process. It can't be prevented but there are ways to slow it down.
Reducing sugar intake to avoid glycation, as well as intermittent fasting
Dear Harasit Kumar Paul Agreed, it cannot be prevented; but you did not ways to slow down the process of aging!
Dear Sawsan Ali Thank you for sharing your suggestion to slow down the process of aging.
Eating more foods rich in glutathione, as it is the most important antioxidant that limits the occurrence of glycation. It is also known that glutathione decreases in the amount in the body with age, it is also possible to compensate for the deficiency through nutritional supplements.
Dear Sawsan Ali Thanks for your valued opinion. According to you,
glutathione is the main cause of aging, and meeting out its deficiency through nutritional supplements can reduce the process of aging. Thank you once again.
Dear Mohammed Khandaker True! That what is new today becomes old just tomorrow. Thank you!
Agree with all of Sawsan Ali Mohammed Khandaker Diana A. Ali Harasit Kumar Paul Arbind K. Choudhary
You all agreed with each other but from different angles of view, and that a real wonderful discussion.
In my opinion, aging is a fact and we are the story out of it, you choose how to tell it.
"Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." - Betty Friedan
Thank you doctor. We can reduce the appearance of aging by paying attention to our diet, and eating colorful fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants
We can all be happy when we grow old while staying in good health!
Oxidation (oxidative stress) is part of the aging process. Please see this interesting link entitled Oxidation, Disease and Aging
http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/aging/art2202.html
Dear Abdulaziz Albannai Sawsan Ali Raya Al-Naimi Thank you each one for participating, and making the discussion highly interesting.
Dear Frank T. Edelmann For most of the physiological problems in living systems, oxidative stress is the major cause, irrespective of whether these are plants, animals or humans.
No doubt oxidative stress and free radicals are major cause of aging. Besides this depression/stress is also contributing in the progression of aging.
Dear Sana Arshad Agreed. I value your participation, and appreciate your views.
Dear Arbind K. Choudhary how did you know what Alaa Ali
's answer was? I could not read it...😳
"Old people are not born, they only die and, however, are not disappear". - Vasily Kluchevskii, Russian historian, mid 19 century.
Dear Frank T. Edelmann Actually she wrote in Urdu/Arabian language. I took help of Google translator. I came to know that she had told "Good Question".
Dear Vadim S. Gorshkov Thanks for quoting Russian historian in the context of ongoing discussion on aging.
Dear Remi Chukwudi Okeke Thank so much for your straightforward opinion.
I agree with Dr. Remi Chukwudi Okeke
as we cannot avoid aging, as it is the inevitable result that we will reach one day, but we can maintain our health as much as possible by living a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy food, exercising regularly, and avoiding as much as possible psychological and nervous excitement and excessive stress and get enough sleep and rest. And for women, avoid crying as much as possible, because it makes women lose the hyaluronic acid, which is one of the components of tears, but at the same time, it is an essential material in maintaining the glasses and youth of the skin, although I do not abide by this advice at all. For me, there is no need to avoid old age, because beauty and youth are the beauty and youth of the heart and soul, not the beauty of the shape and the body.
Dear Manal Hadi Kanaan Fully agreed with you and Remi Chukwudi Okeke in that we should accept aging as such. It is today's reality.
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