Ageing starts when we are conceived. And while much anti-ageing research is under way, the best option is at our fingertips.
There’s a lot of confusion between the implicit processes of ageing and diseaseswith getting old, says Lange. A good example is our minds. As brain tissue gradually decreases with age, it’s normal for our memory to shift, to become slower and less efficient.But forgetting entirely and suffering from significant impairment is not universal, it’s a symptom of dementia .
“You can be already on an un-level playing field, depending on what your early life is like,” Byles says. “If you get to older age and you’re big and strong, with a healthy brain, good education, a strong immune system, they all go into your reserve ... you can maybe cope with having not as strong muscles or a decline in condition because you have all these other things that support you. ”
Social disadvantage is a big one. A 2020 study of 5000 Britons found that lower socioeconomic status led to an accelerated decline in ageing. The researchers pointed out that the rich tended to have, for example, better access to parks and fitness centres as well as mentally stimulating activities , which all helped bolster physical and mental function.
“Just like our muscles, use it or lose it – our brains are like that as well,” she says. “One of the best things you can do for healthy ageing is just to keep having a go at things – not brain training but staying engaged in life, socialising, learning new skills, learning a language.” “At every age, I change my behaviour so that I can do the best I can with the physiological systems I have. And I don’t look for immortality,” he says.
Exercise improves muscle strength, balance, bone density, and the immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It boosts mood and supports brain and spinal health, too. Getting out and being active with people is important for cognitive stimulation; and, by stressing the body, you’re also getting it used to dealing with small perturbations.
Byles adds: “I have a theory that everyone thinks they’re 30. You have a concept of yourself, so we always think we’re younger, which is great. But then we can get a shock.” And a World Health Organisation global survey of more than 83,000 people found that one in two had ageist attitudes. The idea that older people are incapable of using technology is another misconception. And Professor Linda Rosenman, board member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, says debates about retirement age generate another myth. “I think it’s really important not to categorise everybody older than 65 as old,” Rosenman says. “This is just the age that people become eligible for government pensions. There’s nothing magical about this age. It doesn’t mean people are all of a sudden decrepit.
“You use your brain to solve problems throughout your life ... [and] each time you learn a new strategy you can apply it to other problems, and that’s wisdom.” Reflecting on her own life, Rosenman considers herself to have become more patient and tolerant, and she enjoys having more time.