Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life for which the first was made;
Our times are in his hand
Who saith 'a whole I planned,
Youth shows but half,
Trust God; see all, none be afraid.'
-Robert BrowningAgeing is a natural and gradual biological process.
An individual's lifespan is determined by a combination of factors some of which are nutrition, habits, lifestyle, environment and genes.
If genes were the sole determinant of ageing then our life would be a short one as our forefathers of just a hundred years ago had a short life expectancy. The life expectancy of the Romans during the period of the Roman empire was below 30. Man's life expectancy has been extended due mainly to advances in medicine, better hygiene, improvement in diagnosing and treating diseases, a better diet and awareness of healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle e.g. overeating, poor diet, excessive consumption of alcohol , lack of exercise, lack of social and mental stimulation speeds up ageing.
Cells in the body die faster for some individuals than for others and the rate of bodily changes differs from person to person.
Medical discoveries and advances like anti-ageing hormones, now being studied and researched, anti-ageing antioxidants, the decoding of the human genome and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) therapy promise to extend man's life for a longer period of time.
A lifespan of over 100 years is plausible for those born in this millennium and beyond.
Gene therapy will be researched, tried and tested to address the major illnesses that plague mankind and especially those that afflict the elderly, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia.
Another area that researchers are currently looking into is stem cells. They have found that stem cells, collected from bone marrow, umbilical cords, aborted fetuses or placentas and brain, can be grown into specific kinds of tissue like muscle, cartilage or bone. Diseased, injured or worn out parts can then be treated or repaired.
Dr. Ronald Klatz on the Oprah Winfrey show has this to say about the effects of HGH, "With proper nutrition, exercise and HGH therapy, we see dramatic improvements in skin texture and radiance, posture, eyesight, hair (one man's hare actually turned from gray back to black) and mental acuity. These people are regaining their youthful glow - they develop a new zest for life, a new energy, a gleam in their eye, and a hearty handshake. They actually act younger."
Dr.Klatz further adds, "I see the advent of the ageless society, where people are going to be young at my age. You won't be able to tell the difference between an active, healthy 65-yar-old person versus an active, healthy, 105-year-old person That's the promise of anti-ageing medicine."
A healthy lifestyle and the right attitude determine the quality of life and whether the extra years of life are satisfactory enjoyable, interesting, fulfilling and meaningful.
Dr. M. Suzuki, a cardiologist and professor a Okinawa International University, Mr. B. Willcox, a geriatrics fellow at Harvard Medical school and Mr. C. Willcox, assistant professor at Okinawa University, have found in their study of life expectancy of Okinawans , that people in the island generally live longer. They attribute their good health and longer life expectancy to their moderation in the consumption of food and their diet of fruits, vegetables and fish. Their social network provides a strong sense of security, giving them less pressure and stress. They work even into their 80's and 90's. Obesity, heart disease, stroke, dementia, cancer rare among them.
"At 70 you are still a child, at 80 a young man or woman. If at 90 someone from Heaven invites you over, tell him: Just go away and come back when I am 100." - An old saying in Okinawa.
Close and warm relationship and association with family members and friends is without doubt important for ageing happily. Social ties and support influence the state of your physical function and mental well being.