Normal ageing process

[LiveintheNow]

What do you know about getting older? Do you know what to expect in terms of physical abilities declining?

Inspired by expectations on multiple threads about what older people should be doing!

For Example -

"The amount of muscle tissue (muscle mass) and muscle strength tend to decrease beginning around age 30 and continuing throughout life."

www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/older-people’s-health-issues/the-aging-body/changes-in-the-body-with-aging

I monitor blood results for a living - reduced kidney function is correlated with aging but I don't think it's proven that ageing necessarily is the cause - high blood pressure, high blood sugar and medications are the main cause of reduced kidney function - all of which are much more common in older people. If I see blood results for a fit and healthy older person who does not have any chronic conditions- most likely their egfr will be 90+

Im not sure what you're after here. Yes kidney function declines. So does cardiac function. So does lung function.

You can only hope to mitigate these a bit by being healthy. It'll happen anyway, but its certainly possible to live a healthy and happy life when you're older.

@LiveintheNow

I work more in social care than health and see a lot of older people (50 plus is considered older by the way!) with differing levels of health and fitness. Attitude makes a difference too but what I am getting at is you can eat well, be active, keep engaged socially, be lucky enough not to have any health conditions etc but there is an underlying process that for some reason we mostly ignore.

Eyesight is a good example. I had great eyesight, optician told me I would not need glasses until I was in my 40s when people often begin to need reading glasses. Being young I didn't think about that much as is was so far in the future... so now needing reading glasses and glasses for distance is a bit if a shock and due to age alone.

Kidney function declines with age, the result would be getting tired more easily, less energy, lower alcohol tolerance.

There can be older people who are fitter than younger people but in general muscle decline starts in your 30s!

It is use it or lose I guess to some extent but there are some things you can't do a thing about.

Well yeah. You're stating facts though. Of course this happens. Im not sure what you want here? Im not sure theres a debate to be had?

What do you know about getting older?

A lot.

Do you know what to expect in terms of physical abilities declining?

Yes in general and about me very little, because the timing and specifics are individual.

what older people should be doing!

There's buckets of good health advice out there... the problem isn't lack of advice, it's lack of motivation to heed it. Especially at an age when your health is still good.

I've a friend who was abused as a child later her marriage went sour ... I know life gave her a pile of emotional baggage that definitely makes her harder for her to make healthy choices... I still feel frustrated at some of her choices. Not my problem or responsibility, but still hard to watch. And she's one of the people who is trying harder; so many people just shrug about idea of taking care of their own health.

I’m a bit confused about this post tbh as all the OP seems to be doing is pointing out the obvious. Surely a decline in bone health, muscle mass, kidney function etc are all things that people expect and it’s pretty common knowledge that these things start quite early on. There is also a wealth of knowledge on how to try and minimise the impact of these things as we get older

we'd see more older professional sportsmen and women.

Well, yes, there are limits. An 80yo won't be a professional athlete. Even a 45yo will only v rarely be, and certainly not in a team sport at a high competitive level.

That's not solely due to physical fitness & ability but the challenges placed on a sports person in terms of time, diet, hours of training.

A 50 yo can & often is healthier, stronger & fitter than someone twice their age. I'm a lot fitter than most people half my age in my exercise classes. That's partly because I've been exercising for so long! Longer than they have.

there are some things you can't do a thing about
I'm really not getting your point. We are all ageing - from the day we are born!

When you look at a toddler fall down & pick them self up with ease - by even 6 or 7 a child can't do that any more.

With each stage you lose and gain. You will gain in physical strength as you get older, to a point. You will start to lose some muscle / bone density but can offset the impact with exercise but you will have knowledge & ability to take ownership of your life & health, hopefully.

Almost every single stage brings positives & challenges, it's just life. I don't think anyone is disputing the change in our bodies as we age. But we have a lot of agency over how that change manifests, if we are lucky to be alive & healthy.

I have had the privilege to see my patients (dentist) every six months ha for the last 35+ years. From observation the biggest influence on ageing by far is genes. I see some patients in their 70s who look and are physically younger biologically than some 40 yr olds.
Exercise and diet are modifiers but most people start the healthy lifestyle far too late to have a significant effect.
I’m afraid it’s all about your genes. Some are just programmed to live longer so age at a slower rate.

I’m afraid it’s all about your genes. Some are just programmed to live longer so age at a slower rate.

Genes play a part for sure but you're incorrect to say 'it's all about genes'.

No way.

My grandmother lived healthily till she was a few months short of 100. She literally died of old age, had no conditions, and was mentally fully aware. She was deaf & walked slowly. She lived a largely healthy life and was certainly fortunate not to get any terminal illnesses earlier. She was active & engaged in her community till nearly 90. From then, less so.

My mother looks really well, age-wise, great skin for her age (71), like my DGM, so obvious genetics at play.

But following some I'll health, grief, depression, she is much less active & engaged than my DGM was at a similar age. There are some physical reasons for this (she had a bad fall & bone break some years ago) but a lot is she has given up. Her mood is low. She has no interest in exercise or fitness. She has a plethora of related issues eg stiffness, back pain, some weight around her middle (she's otherwise slim)

Thankfully overall she's well. But she had chosen not to make the most of these years.

It's not genes. She's not actively investing in her physical well being.

At 45 I'm very active & exercise intensively. There is no guarantee that I won't get sick from something else, and it doesn't mean I'll live till 100. But in my present life, I'm doing all I can to be fit & well, physically & mentally.

@Angrymum22

I have had the privilege to see my patients (dentist) every six months ha for the last 35+ years. From observation the biggest influence on ageing by far is genes. I see some patients in their 70s who look and are physically younger biologically than some 40 yr olds. Exercise and diet are modifiers but most people start the healthy lifestyle far too late to have a significant effect. I’m afraid it’s all about your genes. Some are just programmed to live longer so age at a slower rate.

Disagree. Genes arent the be all and end all. Some ladies are genetically predisposed to develop breast cancer - doesnt mean they'll get it, they just have a higher chance of it developing.

Same goes with aging. You may be genetically predisposed to 'age well', but if you sit in front of the tv each evening eating pizza you wont do well.

I do agree that you can see those who are aging well from a really early age - id say about 35/40ish. I agree its because these people live a healthy lifestyle. Overhauling a poor lifestyle at 60+ wont mitigate years of poor choices.

So, I think healthy lifestyles from an early age has a huge impact. Genes may influence things, but external factors will have an impact on that.

I watched an interesting piece about oak trees in a programme about Blenheim Palace. They explained the life of a species of oak tree. It is genetically coded to grow for 300 years then live for 300 years then it gradually dies for 300 years. All living things probably possess the same coding otherwise we would live forever.
Having just undergone treatment for breast cancer I have had a bit of an epiphany and I am no longer at odds with ageing. I intend to embrace every day I am on this earth without regret or worry about how old I look. I’m still here and I don’t give a shit whether I look 50 or 95.

most people start the healthy lifestyle far too late to have a significant effect.

Sorry this is wrong too

I've countless examples of people I meet running / exercising who did nothing dot decades & then got into fitness. One woman was 4 stone overweight. When she was about 50 she started doing exercise classes. She is really slim now but also impressively fit, runs at a decent pace, lifts weights well.

It is never too late & the effect will always be significant though that will mean different things to different people.

I intend to embrace every day I am on this earth without regret or worry about how old I look. I’m still here and I don’t give a shit whether I look 50

Hear hear!

That's a great approach & best of luck with your recovery.

@Angrymum22

I watched an interesting piece about oak trees in a programme about Blenheim Palace. They explained the life of a species of oak tree. It is genetically coded to grow for 300 years then live for 300 years then it gradually dies for 300 years. All living things probably possess the same coding otherwise we would live forever. Having just undergone treatment for breast cancer I have had a bit of an epiphany and I am no longer at odds with ageing. I intend to embrace every day I am on this earth without regret or worry about how old I look. I’m still here and I don’t give a shit whether I look 50 or 95.

Good for you, but still doesnt mean genetics trump all.

There is some very interesting research into longevity coming from the University of California and also Harvard (see the work of David Sinclair for example). Some of the information challenges the conventional wisdom of ageing being an inevitable process. There is also a lot of information about the role of simple carbs (especially sugar) in diseases of later age.

Have a look on YouTube at University of California TV at some of their films or this film made at Harvard Medical School: www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-art-of-living-well-longwood-seminar

(In the US the spelling is aging).

Oh and the only genetic predisposition to breast cancer is my X chromosomes which every woman (and man ) has. Only 10% of breast cancers are caused by genes the other 90% are bad luck. One in eight women will get breast cancer and one in two people will get cancer so the odds are pretty much stacked against all of us.
So many people, when diagnosed with cancer ask why me, I don’t smoke, drink or eat unhealthily, I exercise etc etc. No lifestyle protects you from a random mutation so please don’t think that your lifestyle makes you untouchable.

@Angrymum22

Oh and the only genetic predisposition to breast cancer is my X chromosomes which every woman (and man ) has. Only 10% of breast cancers are caused by genes the other 90% are bad luck. One in eight women will get breast cancer and one in two people will get cancer so the odds are pretty much stacked against all of us. So many people, when diagnosed with cancer ask why me, I don’t smoke, drink or eat unhealthily, I exercise etc etc. No lifestyle protects you from a random mutation so please don’t think that your lifestyle makes you untouchable.

I feel like you're being really agressive for no real reason.

NOTHING is a gurantee as ive said up thread. All you can do is try and mitigate things with a healthy lifestyle.

Im not going to engage with you anymore as I think you're taking things personally and you're being agressive.

So, I think healthy lifestyles from an early age has a huge impact. Genes may influence things, but external factors will have an impact on that

Well yes I agree with you to an extent but I'm not so sure about the 'huge impact'. I thought I was doing all the right things- I was! - until I was diagnosed with severe coronary artery disease almost out of the blue. Previous screenings had produced very good results and I could have been almost complacent about it all.

Unfortunately my family history of heart disease evidently had a bigger impact and got me.
Many people who have heart attacks, coronary disease etc can appear very physically fit and well until they're not. Lifestyle is not always the cause as I found out.

I comfort myself by thinking if I hadn't tried to live a healthy life, I possibly wouldn't be here now!

I comfort myself by thinking if I hadn't tried to live a healthy life, I possibly wouldn't be here now!

Yes, so this is mitigation against genetic predisposition.

In reality nobody ever knows really, people can just do their best.

I was just wondering about things like parents asking their ageing parents for childcare without factoring in the changes that come with age. That might be more that it is hard to see your parents objectively though?

I think there is another debate about actual age versus biological age where genes and lifestyle can make a difference.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

Carry on exercising. Dont be sedate. It helps hugely.

As a practice nurse I see the difference between the two and its huge.

This!

most people start the healthy lifestyle far too late to have a significant effect
I’ve observed the opposite in some cases. People who did a lot of exercise throughout their lives can have much more “wear and tear” aches, pains, injuries etc when they get to mid 50 - 60. Others who came to a good diet, normal weight, exercise etc in later life are fitter than most in their age range. I think some people can come late to the fitness party but still end up fitter than others the same age who have been consistently exercising throughout life.
Agree genes and luck are very influential, all other things being equal.

campio not aggression but reality. I am on a private fb group for breast cancer survivors and many womens first post is often about how surprised they are, and how angry, that they have breast cancer despite their incredibly healthy life styles and exercise routines. This was reinforced by my oncologist who often is faced with this question.
I think that the health and exercise promoters sell their product, it is a multi million pound industry, off the back of future proofing your health and well-being. Exercise does not mean expensive gyms and constant activity, it nearly means being active. You cannot exercise your way out of cancer.
My MIL has an obsession with drinking fluids to stay healthy. When my DS had his first epileptic seizure she was convinced it was due to me not giving him enough to drink. Even when he was formally diagnosed she still believed that it was due to dehydration.
When we are diagnosed with diseases out of our control we look to solutions that we can control. There is no doubt that moderate exercise and a good diet will help keep our immune systems in good working order but from experience most of the conditions I have been diagnosed with are not influenced by diet or exercise.

My mum was incredibly healthy, kept active, kept her brain active etc.
Then developed early onset dementia in her 60s. Within a few years she looked 90, despite being 25 years younger. Body and mind ravaged by the effects of a terrible disease. Just incredibly unlucky. No amount of exercising or healthy living protects you from random illnesses.

I belong to a running club that has many members in the 60+ category. We have a woman who ran a marathon to celebrate her 80th birthday and then did another one when she was 82. There's a man of 86 who does our parkrun in less than 30 mins every week and one in his 70s who puts in a very decent time for a recreational runner of any age.

Now, are these "lucky" people who have been able to continue despite their age or are they able to continue because they never stopped?

My friends (mostly in their 50s like me) outside of work, who tend to be active people who share my active interests, seem decades younger than similar aged colleagues who tend to be more sedentary. Many of them have age (or weight) related health problems, but again is it that which prevents them from being more active or has been less active lead to their problems?

It really is striking how different the two groups of similar aged people are. Not just in their health but in their general outlook too. The "fit" people are in their prime, having the time of their lives in their 50s, the others seem very elderly by comparison and don't want to (or can't?) "do" anything.