We all get old. It’s a given. And the longer we live, the more likely we are to experience the decline and deficits of aging. But is there a way to slow down the aging process? Scientists think there may be, and they’ve taken some promising steps in that direction.
The Complexities of Aging
Sounds like a simple question, right? But like a lot of questions, it’s more complex than you might think. Aging is a complex process that scientists are just beginning to understand, explains Kenneth Boockvar, director of the Integrative Center for Aging Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center. We see signs of aging when we look in the mirror, but in the lab, scientists can see evidence of aging at the cellular level.
“Aging involves the accumulation of damage, including to DNA,” Boockvar says.
The cellular damage as well as the damage we can see without a microscope — changes in physical and cognitive functioning — are associated with the passage of time. But how and when those deficits manifest varies markedly from person to person. For example, certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, are associated with age, but not everyone gets chronic diseases as they age. Medicines can slow down the effects of high blood pressure, and medicines can slow down the effects of diabetes.
