Cellular Aging
To answer the age-old question of why humans age, scientists have focused their research on the cells of the body. Chronological age is often not a good measure of a person's health and well-being, with some people looking (and acting) younger than their age, while others are just the opposite. The health of our cells may very well be the key to feeling healthy as we age.
Aging typically means loss of muscle
strength, bone density, lung function, and memory, while our risk for
conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and
cancer all increase. A graph of incidence of disease versus age
illustrates this point nicely: many chronic disease conditions are rare
when we are young but their incidence begins to increase around age 50.
To scientists who study aging, this upsurge around age 50 suggests that
there might be a common reason underlying the onset of these age-related
diseases and that reason may be cellular aging.
Driver JA, Djoussé L, Logroscino G, Gaziano JM, Kurth T. Incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer in advanced age: prospective cohort study. BMJ.2008 Dec 9;337:a2467. PMID: 19066258
When we are born, we start out with
healthy cells; damage tends to accumulate as our cells are exposed to
ultraviolet radiation, environmental toxins, stress, or a poor diet. The
more cells are exposed to these insults, the more potential for damage
to those cells. It is this accumulated damage that eventually crosses a
threshold that may lead to recognizable disease.1 It is
critical that our cells are able to first defend themselves against
these attacks, and then repair any damage should it occur.
One key to understanding cellular defense is knowing that cells require antioxidants and certain nutrients in the right amounts in order to be able to perform their normal functions and to protect and repair themselves.2
One key to understanding cellular defense is knowing that cells require antioxidants and certain nutrients in the right amounts in order to be able to perform their normal functions and to protect and repair themselves.2
If overall health is really is a
reflection of cellular health, then it is important to maximize the
nutrition and lifestyle changes that help those cells defend themselves.
1 Polidori
MC. Antioxidant micronutrients in the prevention of age-related
diseases. J Postgrad Med. 2003 Jul-Sep;49(3):229-35. PMID:14597786.
2 Møller P,
Loft S. Interventions with antioxidants and nutrients in relation to
oxidative DNA damage and repair. Mutat Res. 2004 Jul 13;551(1-2):79-89.
PMID: 15225583.
No comments:
Post a Comment