Muscular atrophy sets in along with advancing age because of a decrease in the levels of hormones and other growth factors in the body. This causes aging. To some extent, it can be avoided by some physical exercises and also by injecting growth stimulating drugs in the body. In present time, researchers are proposing the use of stem cell therapy for countering the loss of cells to prevent aging.

Researchers have held genetic causes as one of the most primary causes of aging. It is believed that the process of aging is pre-programmed in to the genes. While nothing much can be done to alter the genetic programming, it has been shown that the process gets induced by your lifestyle too to trigger early aging.

Free radicals are the oxygen molecules with one less electron. They feed on the skin components like collagen to replace the missing electron in their molecules and this result in aging. Free radicals are produced in the body as a response to environmental toxins such as unprotected sunlight and cigarette smoke. These radicals may also destroy or alter the DNA sequence and disrupt other functions of the cells.

The genetic material in the nucleus cells and also of the mitochondria, which is like power plant of the human cells, often mutates. Sometimes the nuclear mutations create cancer cells. Also, the mutated mitochondria cause oxidation damage to the body tissues.

The cellular senescence prevents the timely natural death of cells. Such cells then accumulate in the body and secrete harmful proteins which have an important role in aging. Also, the excess cellular cross linkages block the movement of nutrients in to cells and obstruct the removal of cellular waste products.

The growth of different kinds of intra- and extracellular junk is also responsible for aging. Researchers are trying to find out enzymes that can decrease the formation of cellular junk.

One of the functions of the skin is to naturally heal the inflammation caused by factors like pollution, sunlight etc. A dry skin type is least capable to do so and, thus, triggers the aging process. This is why doctors advice the regular use of moisturizers, to drink plenty of water and to eat fruits that provide anti-oxidants to the body.

Environmental pollutants coming out from automobiles and industries are one of the major causes for production of free radicals in the body. One of the prescribed ways to meet this challenge is to eat anti-oxidant rich foods which cool down the free radicals and, thus, choke the process of aging.

Both cigarettes and alcohol are diuretics. These cause loss of moisture from the body and make the skin dry. Smoking also causes the growth of free radicals in the body. Researchers have shown that smoking increases wrinkles and dryness in the skin. This is so because smoking causes depletion of vitamin C from the body. This vitamin is primarily responsible for keeping the skin moist and healthy.

Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays. It generates free radicals and also triggers skin-aging inflammation in the body. Both the factors become a threat for collagen. Not only this, exposure to ultraviolet rays is also responsible for the growth of skin cancer. One of the easiest ways to avoid harmful sunlight is to regularly apply sunscreen lotions.