Myths of Aging Explained

“Older people find it hard to move.”

Because of changes to the construction of muscles, joints, and bones, a gradual degeneration of tissue occurs in the aging body. As a result, movement of limbs and joints can become restricted and the aging individual can find it painful to move, bend, or flex joints.

“Older people think slow.”

The brain also suffers as the body ages, diminishing in nerve connections as time goes by. As a result, the aging brain takes a longer time to respond to stimuli, sometimes lacking a response altogether in air of brain cell death.

“Older people smell funny.”

As the skin changes its structure, it also acquires a different scent. Skin goes through thinning and decreased flexibility, as well as dehydration and unevenness, when we age.

“Older people lose their memory.”

As part of the aging of the brain, the ability of the frontal lobe and hippocampus to function is limited. These two areas play a vital role in the retention of memory. As the nerve endings become damaged and neurons die off, the capacity to retain specific memories is reduced. Because of this, older people are known for having memory problems, especially with short-term memory.

“Older people find it hard to hear.”

Aging is a general phenomenon that affects every single part of our bodies. The hearing organ is also inhibited as age takes it toll. As the years go by, the vessels within the ear suffer from calcification and collagen depositing, which inhibits the individual’s ability to respond to sound stimuli and register sound waves of specific pitches. The bones within the ear also deteriorate with time, along with the ear drum, which loses its vibrating ability as it ages.

See you next time,

Your Life After 40

11 Responses to “Myths of Aging Explained”