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Aging Research

Aging: Research


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1. Older people lead a happy life

Aging has little to do with decrease in psychological well being, says a latest research. The study was conducted to look at the quality of health and life in countries like the U.K. and U.S. The research, carried out by the University of Warwick, analyzed health patterns and lifestyles in around 10,000 people from both the nations. The primary aim was to study the ways in which a personโ€™s lifestyle affects his mental and physical health. In evaluating quality of life, researchers used a measure which observes and examines 8 different factors including pain, mental health and social functioning. It was found that people reported improvements in the psychological quality of life as they grew older. Their mental status seemed to have improved with growing age, although there was a parallel deterioration in the physical quality of life.

2. A species of flatworm defies aging to become immortal

The fear of death is most common among older people. Given a chance, a majority of the population would wish for immortality. If human beings are not as lucky when it comes to avoiding the thin line between life and death, then a species of flatworm definitely is, says a new research. A latest study by the University of Nottingham casts aging in a new light. According to the researchers, a certain species of flatworm are quite adept at overcoming the aging process to attain immortality. The news of the path breaking discovery first appeared in the National Academy of Science proceedings. The study sheds light on possible ways of overcoming aging and age-related traits in human cells. The scientists were, in fact, amazed at the planarian wormโ€™s capacity to regenerate.

3. Stress and depression leads to premature aging

Depression or stress triggers a plethora of conditions detrimental to the well being of the human body. The sufferer can feel a majority of these effects. A few, however, go completely unnoticed. Of them, telomere length shortening is one effect worth mentioning at the outset, says a latest research. The word telomere stands for a type of protective cap found on chromosomal ends. With time, the telomeres shorten and are, therefore, one of the most significant indicators of growing age or aging. The latest study sheds light on how depression and stress work to shorten the telomere length. Tension or stress has been linked to early shortening of telomere in several studies conducted previously. The study, which appeared in biological psychiatry, aims to bring all prior works together by examining the relationships between depression and telomere length.

4. Anticipation about the future makes you grow older

Advance planning is the key to a safe and secure future. However, going overboard with the plans may put you at increased risk for aging related diseases, says a latest study. The research conducted by the UCSF included fifty women, a majority of whom had relatives with dementia to care for. The results showed that cells in those threatened by the anticipation of tedious laboratory tasks were aging prematurely. Researchers measured telomeres to assess the cellular age. If the cellular age is found growing old, then it may be a strong indicator of diseases like cancer, stroke and heart disease. Hence, all that can be said is, anticipate less to lead a healthy and secure life.

5. Research throws light on the brainโ€™s reluctance to function during old age

A new research promises to reveal a unique mechanism that makes the brain more reluctant to function properly as a person grows older. The study was conducted by the University of Bristol. The medical community has not been able to fathom the exact reasons that cause cognitive functions of the brain, like speech and memory, to decline with growing age. However, the new study sheds light on the possibilities of detecting cognitive decline before the age of fifty. The study identified a unique cellular mechanism responsible for triggering changes in the activity and functioning of neurons, which may be the reason behind cognitive decline during healthy and normal aging.

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