What Are the Causes of Aging?

If you look at a group of second graders, there are very few physical differences between them. But if you look at the same group 65 years later, their physical differences will outnumber their similarities. Some will have chronic conditions, while others will be the epitome of health. Some may be lethargic, while the others are vigorous.

As we age, we become less like our peers. We end up the sum of our life experiences. When we are young, our bodies are still new and fairly similar to those around us. But by old age, we've had decades to develop, which get us into habits that affect our health in many ways.

Also the environment affects our health. For example, where we work and how much exposure we have to diseases affects us. Although aging affects us all, we experience it in many different ways. How and why our bodies age is still a mystery, but we are learning more each year and scientists believe that chronological age has little to do with biological age. The amount of candles on your cake is just a marker, it doesn't say much about your health.

Which factor affects us more: lifestyle or genes?

Growing older is a very complex issue and it's hard to pinpoint why some people age better than others. Good health could be passed down through our genes, but the environment plays a role as well. So we don't really know which influence is more powerful.

Genes are very powerful predictors of longevity and health, as well as death and disease, but they only tell a part of the story. If your parents grow old and so did your grandparents, there is a chance you will too - but that's if you follow the same lifestyle. If you abuse your body, then your genes will protect you from aging. Just the same, if your mom had breast cancer and your dad died of a heart attack, then you are more susceptible to those diseases and there isn't much you can do to change your genes, but if you live healthy, you may live longer.

Also, healthy living can delay the aging process. Eating nutritiously goes a long way toward having good health. Vitamin D and calcium will delay the onset and progression of osteoporosis, which could cause pain, hospitalization and even death. So making sure your environment is healthy goes a long way in aging old gracefully.

So what causes aging? We really don't know, other than our cells grow old and deteriorate. How those cells age depends on genetics and environment factors, but the best way to slow or delay the aging process is to live a healthy life and take care of your body. In the end, it will take care of you.