Aging is really not for the faint of heart. Many of us have the aches and pains of arthritis (glad mine is minimal). Some of us have high blood pressure. Maybe high cholesterol. Trouble sleeping.
And then there are the less troublesome, but noticeable, things. Shrinking. It seems to start around age 50 and women lose almost two inches, after the age of 80. There are many factors involved and we can be proactive even later in life. Weight bearing exercises can stimulate bone growth! Take lots of calcium and Vitamin D to help absorb it.
Teeth can change and become more crooked, especially the lowers. I read a great term for this ... shift and drift. This became very bothersome to me so I got "braces" (Invisalign) for my 65th birthday. I wear a retainer every night to keep them straight. Now I smile without hesitation.
I've noticed my voice has changed. Just this past year. It doesn't seem as loud as it used to be. Or as crisp. This is a weird thing for sure. Some experts say it is caused by thinning of our vocal chords and them becoming less supple. I do so much on the computer that I don't use my voice as much. I suppose I should join a choir as physical therapy. One of my friends is 83 and we can barely hear her. Her husband has to repeat her order to the waitress. I try to sit next to her when we go out so I don't have to continually ask " say that again?"
Should I go on? Our senses diminish. The digestive system has trouble regulating between constipation and loose stools (I just love it when I product a perfect ripe banana sample). Dry mouth. I sure hate this one. I've progressed from Werther's butterscotch drops to Biotene lozenges. Slowing cognitive reactions ... you know, that word that is on the tip of your tongue but you can't get it out?
My focus right now is dry skin. It must be a huge issue as I have never even heard of some of this great ideas. I use hand/arm lotion several times a day. Same with my face! Body butter all over after a shower but while still damp. Then I air dry on a beach towel in my bed to let it soak in. Trying products with lanolin, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, and use Aquaphor on my lips and elbows. I even use coconut oil on my hair overnight every once in a while.
Scientific hallmarks of aging? (I used ChatGPT to explain)
- Genomic instability – DNA damage builds up over time, leading to problems in how cells function.
- Telomere attrition – The protective caps on the ends of DNA (telomeres) get shorter, making cells weaker and less able to divide.
- Epigenetic alterations – Changes in gene activity happen that mess up how cells work, even if the DNA itself isn’t damaged.
- Loss of proteostasis – Proteins in the body lose their proper shape and function, leading to diseases like Alzheimer's.
- Disabled macroautophagy – Cells lose the ability to clean out damaged parts, causing waste to build up.
- Deregulated nutrient-sensing – The body's system for detecting and using nutrients stops working properly, affecting metabolism and energy use.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction – The cell’s power plants (mitochondria) get weaker, leading to less energy and more harmful byproducts.
- Cellular senescence – Old, damaged cells stop dividing but don’t die, causing inflammation and harm to nearby cells.
- Stem cell exhaustion – The body’s ability to replace old or damaged cells weakens, slowing down healing and regeneration.
- Altered intercellular communication – Cells stop sending the right signals to each other, leading to chronic inflammation and other aging-related issues.
Oh well, wabi-sabi (a perfect Japanese phrase that simply means accepting the lifecycle of things).
My voice has definitely changed a lot this past year and it embarrasses me how old I sound. I think we should try talking and singing out loud to practice every day. On Wednesdays when I play and teach a lot of Mahjong I come home barely able to to hear myself.
ReplyDeleteThe articles I read did say voice over 80 seem more noticeable. You lucky octagenarian! Someone should put together an encyclopedia of changes you MIGHT notice at each five years starting with 40. My daughter is certainly taking notice of my aging process ... she turns 39 in May. I need to call someone every day just to chat. My sister and I do but she's out of the country so much.
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