How can aging be prevented

Consider the ethics. But other researchers are concerned , as metformin intake has been associated with a higher risk of B vitamin deficiencies.

Some studies suggest this can result in cognitive dysfunction. One study found metformin can reduce aerobic capacity and quash the benefits of excercise — something we know to help fight the effects of old age. Metformin also shows mixed results in its effects on ageing depending on which model organism is used such as rats, flies or worms. This raises doubts about whether its supposed anti-ageing capabilities would apply to humans. Another compound of interest is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD.

This naturally occurring substance is vital to energy metabolism in most animals including humans, plants, bacteria and even yeast. In mice and humans, NAD levels appear to decline as we age. NAD and compounds like resveratrol a chemical isolated from wine have been shown to work together to maintain the function of our mitochondria — the structures that produce energy inside our cells — and thus fight off ageing in mice.

But this research lacks much-needed human trials. Research has shown several species appear not to age. Read more: Ageing: how our 'epigenetic clocks' slow down as we get older. Aging is ultimately a combination of physiological changes in our bodies and the environmental factors we are exposed to. While the latter is often beyond our control, some environmental factors are modifiable and may influence the course of aging.

Digging deeper into the process of aging, there are several theories that describe how and why our bodies age on multiple levels. A cell can replicate about 50 times before the genetic material is no longer able to be copied accurately. This replication failure is referred to as cellular senescence during which the cell loses its functional characteristics. The accumulation of senescent cells is the hallmark of cellular aging , which in turn translates to biological aging.

The more damage done to cells by free radicals and environmental factors, the more cells need to replicate and the more rapidly that cellular senescence develops. Hormones play a huge role in aging , especially during childhood when they help build bones and muscles and facilitate the development of secondary male or female characteristics. Over time, the output of many hormones will begin to diminish, leading to changes in the skin such as wrinkles and the loss of elasticity and a loss of muscle tone, bone density, and sex drive.

Because sex hormone levels differ between females and males, how females and males age also differs. Aging caused by accumulative damage i. Exposure to toxins, UV radiation , unhealthy foods, and pollution can just some of the things that can take a toll on the body. Over time, these external factors can directly damage DNA in cells in part by exposing them to excessive or persistent inflammation. The accumulated damage can undermine the body's ability to repair itself, promoting rapid aging.

As you go about your day, your cells are constantly turning food into energy, which produces byproducts—some of which can be harmful to the body. The process of metabolization, while essential, can cause progressive damage to cells, a phenomenon referred to as metabolic aging. Some experts believe that slowing down the metabolic process through practices such as calorie restriction may slow aging in humans.

Our age-obsessed culture is consumed with "slowing down aging" and increasing longevity, but the basic truth of it all is that growing old is unavoidable. No matter what you do, your body will change in a number of key ways. For example, by the time a person turns 20, lung tissues will begin to lose their elasticity, the muscles around the rib cage will start to deteriorate, and the overall lung function will gradually begin to diminish.

Similarly, the production of digestive enzymes will begin to slow as we age, which affects how nutrients are absorbed into the body and the types of food we can digest without difficulty.

Blood vessels also lose their flexibility as we age. In people who are sedentary and eat poor diets, the loss of elasticity paired with the accumulation of fatty deposits can lead to atherosclerosis "hardening of the arteries".

As women approach menopause, vaginal fluids will decrease and sexual tissues will start to atrophy due to the loss of estrogen. In men, lean muscles will thin and sperm production will diminish due to decreases in testosterone levels. Aging cannot be avoided. With that said, there are several things you can do to mitigate the environmental factors that influence aging:.

The acceptance of aging is essential to your physical and emotional well-being. If you fixate on getting old, you are more likely to overcompensate by exercising too much or embarking on diets that may do more harm than good. By accepting aging as a process over which you have some control, you can make healthy choices whether you are 25 or It is never too late to start.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Cellular senescence induces replication stress with almost no affect on DNA replication timing. Cell Cycle. Another study, published in September in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , suggested that reducing the amount of time sitting may protect against telomere shortening and extend lifespan.

Last month, Dr. In their study, published in The Embo Journal , Dr. Passos and colleagues increased mitophagy — a process cells normally use to get rid of faulty mitochondria — in aging human cells, enabling them to eradicate all mitochondria.

They found that eliminating mitochondria from the aging cells triggered a rejuvenation process, reducing markers of cellular aging to levels that are normally seen in younger cells.

Clara Correia-Melo. When it comes to aging, one of the biggest concerns is how it will affect our cognitive function. The majority of people will see a decline in cognitive skills as they age. This is because certain areas of the brain — particularly those linked to learning and memory — shrink as we get older, interfering with connections between nerve cells. But increasingly, researchers are uncovering medical strategies that show promise for reversing brain aging.

Last month, MNT reported on a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience , in which researchers successfully reversed aging in the brains of rats. The team — from the University of California-Irvine — gave 11 rats a drug called ampakine every day for 3 months, while a further 12 rats received a placebo. The middle-aged rats that received ampakine, however, were found to have dendrites and dendritic branching that was comparable to those of the adolescent rats, suggesting that ampakine may be a promising compound for reversing brain aging.

This paper is saying that may not be true. While medical research certainly seems to be on the verge of finding promising strategies to reverse the aging process, it is likely to be a long time before telomere-lengthening medications hit the market. But in the meantime, there are a number of things we can do to help reduce the effects of aging. It goes without saying that regular exercise is good for health, but numerous studies have hailed exercise for its beneficial impact on aging.

Other research — published in PLOS One in — suggested that running several times a week may slow the aging process for older adults, promoting better mobility and quality of life, while another study found running minutes daily could add 3 years to life expectancy. Eating a healthy diet is also considered a key factor for healthy aging; last October, a study published in the journal Neurology suggested that following a Mediterranean-style diet may protect against brain aging.

The National Institute on Aging recommend following a diet that includes fruits, vegetables and grains — particularly whole grains — low-fat or fat-free dairy products, seafood, lean poultry and meats. They also recommend limiting the amount of saturated and trans fats, as well as levels of cholesterol , salt and added sugars. When it comes to healthy skin aging — and reducing the appearance of those dreaded wrinkles and brown spots — the American Academy of Dermatology offer some advice:.

A study identifies a link between social isolation and inflammation, suggesting that inflammation may help explain why isolation increases disease…. Some people from racial groups may find that they age differently from others. There are measures a person can take to reduce the signs of aging on…. A new study analyzed systemic biases against women. The authors find that societies worldwide accommodate aging men more than they do aging women.