Longevity & Aging

Why Do Some Age Faster Than Others?

It's a common fact that certain lifestyle factors can impact an individual's lifespan. Cutting fat, eating and drinking in moderation, and even--as a study showed in The Washington Post--having more children can increase longevity. But why do some age faster than others? The answer lies in a multitude of factors that some people have no control over, including genetic makeup, upbringing and environment.

Aside from eating right and getting in an appropriate amount of physical activity, a number of people turn to supplements to increase longevity. An important question to consider when deciding the right anti-aging supplement is how effectively it eliminates free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that exist within us and in the environment that depreciate cell walls and tissue, often causing age-related disease.

Free radicals are one of the top causes of aging and are produced by the body as a result of burning nutrients to produce energy. Basically, they exist because we do. Aside from getting in plenty of green tea and antioxidant-rich foods like pomegranates and blueberries, it also helps to take supplements that eliminate these free radicals. For instance, the antioxidant in red wine, resveratrol--present in popular supplements like Resvitale and Resveralite--has also been known to eradicate free radicals, as well as promote heart health.

Living in a society where aging is characterized as a disease to be prevented doesn't make the reality of old age any easier to face. Age-related illness, loss of relatives and physiological deterioration contribute greatly to the widespread fear of growing old, also known as gerontophobia. By the same token, there are many ways to enjoy the process of old age. Psychotherapist Michael Hurd from Capitalism Magazine says "You don't have to think about your age, even when you're old. Just live your life based on what you're able to do at that point in time." Given the inevitability of old age, it's a reasonable take on aging.

Given the steady rise in life expectancy over the past hundred years, there's reason to hold out hope for the future in extending the lifespan. Theoretically, as technology advances in the science and medicine fields, our abilities to overcome age-related illness will increase, as well as our discoveries in the genetic field. Currently, the Intramural Research Program at the National Institute of Aging performs clinical research around all diseases associated with aging, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke. In addition, it centers its research on finding criteria that will help determine when age-related physiological change becomes pathologic, which will greatly reduce age-related illness.