Image source – https://pixabay.com/photos/mother-old-woman-tenderness-5374622/
Physical signs of ageing have been an inevitable part of human existence for most of history. To some extent, this is still the case. But with rapid advancements in scientific understanding of nutrition, medical treatment, and neurobiology, we’re now able to slow down, control, or, on occasion, even reverse the effects of ageing.
While our numerical age will relentlessly continue to rise with every passing year, we have more control over our biological age and the preservation of youthful, healthy appearance than ever before. That doesn’t mean to say there’s anything overtly wrong with ageing, but romanticised messages of youth in the media can often cause many of us to feel pressured to appear younger for longer.
So, if we’re looking to preserve our health span, what are the key signs of ageing that we should look out for?
WRINKLES AND FACE LINES
Perhaps the most obvious sign of ageing is wrinkles and fine lines developing as the skin loses elasticity and collagen production decreases. These lines often appear around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, and can deepen over time.
However, modern medical treatments can provide an answer to an ageing physical appearance. For example, anti-wrinkle treatment is a process that helps to maintain healthy, natural looking skin and helps users to feel confident and look great. Since it’s a procedure treated by experienced doctors, there’s no need to worry about its safety or implications on your future health.
DECREASED MUSCLE MASS
Muscle mass naturally declines with age, leading to a loss of strength and mobility. This can result in reduced physical endurance and an increased risk of falls and fractures.
However, weight training to improve muscle mass was once misconceived as a macho activity only done by men looking to build a physically dominant body type. Today, however, science encourages men and women to incorporate weight training into their workout regimes to retain more muscle mass and ultimately help us to stay young for longer.
MEMORY LOSS AND COGNITIVE DECLINE
While some degree of memory loss is a normal part of ageing, severe cognitive decline can indicate conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty with problem-solving may become more pronounced over time.
Fighting conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult for the sufferer and their family, but luckily, advancements in scientific research offer some hope in tackling these types of conditions. Experts claim to be cautious but hopeful that they aren’t too far away from finding a cure to stop or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
REDUCED VISION AND HEARING
We’ve all experienced frustratedly talking to an old relative, only for them to ask you to repeat every sentence you say. But changes in vision and hearing are common as we age. Many people experience presbyopia, a condition that makes it difficult to focus on close objects, as well as age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis.
So, next time you’re getting annoyed at your Grandma’s lack of hearing, don’t assume that she’s not concentrating on your conversation and understand that, for now, it’s an inevitable part of the ageing process.
