Why Are Humans Aging? This is the explanation according to science

KOMPAS.com – During his lifetime, humans undergo many physical changes. Not only that, we also experience aging which refers to physiological changes over time.

This state of affairs is an inevitable part of life. In essence, humans are born, grow into children, mature, and grow old.

As we age, there will be several unavoidable conditions, including graying and thinning of hair, loss of fertility, weakened bones, decreased brain function to decreased ability to hear and see.

Unlike humans, single-celled organisms such as amoeba do not aging and will live for a while, then divide into two cells.

Then actually, why do people age?

Also read: Expert: The part of the body that ages faster is the head

A number of experts have tried to find the answer to the mystery of the human body such, to understand the aging process that leads us all to death.

Scientists divide the causes of aging into two categories: programmed, and those related to the environment.

Reported from Science World, Tuesday (14/6/2016) programmed aging occurs due to cells that fail to divide properly. While other factors, caused by environmental exposure, or damage due to wear and tear of the body that accumulates over time.

Programmed cellular factor

Telomere shortening — the very ends of DNA — is one of the factors that causes body cells to lose their ability to divide. DNA is tightly wrapped strands that form structures called chromosomes.

When dividing, the DNA in the cell must be copied but the imperfect copying mechanism eventually results in the loss of some of the DNA.

This is where telomeres come into play to overcome this. However, after continued division, telomeres can be completely depleted and then stop protecting important DNA.

Along with losing the ability to divide properly, the immune system becomes less than optimal and loses the ability to distinguish between healthy cells and ‘bad’ cells.

When that happens, the immune cells actually turn to attack the body itself which is called autoimmunity. Increasing age also causes cells to start attacking themselves, especially in the lungs.

Cellular damage also increases with cell age. That is, this aging is caused by intrinsic factors related to the biological aging of cells.

Also read: Human hearts remain young even though their bodies are aging, how come?

Damage-related aging factors

Aging This refers to extrinsic factors, namely environmental conditions and lifestyles such as exposure to air pollution, malnutrition, ultraviolet radiation, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoke.

These factors will accelerate cell damage and contribute to premature agingif not avoided.

One of the most common symptoms associated with aging is wrinkles. After the age of 20, a person produces 1 percent less collagen in the skin each year, which causes the skin to become more fragile.

Frequent exposure to UV rays from the sun is also a factor that causes the aging process to accelerate. UV rays, at least cause 80 percent of wrinkles on the skin, thus making a person look older than his age.

It is not impossible, aging due to sunlight can be prevented. You can use sunscreen while indoors or outdoors during activities to reduce the risk of wrinkles.

In addition, the presence of free radicals also plays a role in damaging body cells. This highly reactive molecule loses electrons, and will eject them from the cell causing damage.

Also read: Be careful, ultra-processed foods can make cells age faster

Can the effects of aging be slowed down?

While aging is unavoidable, you can slow down its effects by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Here’s how to slow down aging as reported by HealthlineTuesday (23/3/2021):

• Eat nutritious foods, by eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
• Limit consumption of processed foods
• Regularly do 30 minutes of exercise a day 5 days a week to reduce the physical and mental impact of aging
• Avoid tobacco products because they can accelerate aging
• Reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages, which can increase the risk of chronic disease
• Carry out regular health checks to the doctor to prevent or treat disease early on
• Consult a family medical history with a doctor to get the right examination or early treatment of the disease
• Use sunscreen to protect the skin from UV radiation, which can cause premature aging.

Also read: Did you know that the face becomes less symmetrical as you get older?

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