We all know that as we get older, our body goes through a lot of changes like gbcn health and fitness. But did you know this also applies to the brain? The list below shares 10 amazing facts about aging and what it means for all of us:
1. The brain does not “shrink”
Old people often have an impression that the brain is shrinking. But that’s not true. The brain is always active, even when asleep. In fact, it uses up energy at a much faster rate.
2. People are born with motor and sensory neurons
As long as we are still embryos, our body is innately equipped to form all types of neurons, regardless of how they will be used in the future. Up until this point, the motor and sensory neurons (the ones relating to vision and hearing) can grow indefinitely by dividing themselves if needed. They may also be repaired if damaged by invading pathogens or damaged by injury in other ways.
3. Old people have a greater risk of depression and dementia
This is partly because people are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses than they used to be. If they are older, they also have a greater risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s.
4. Grown-ups do not taste “old”
Like many other things, our sense of taste returns in full as we grow older. Experiments using young adults with pretty accurate sensors found out that the same sensation is achieved when placing mints into the mouth which smell like mints and not flowers or chocolate chips. The reason for this is perhaps very simple: it is the result of an olfactory illusion, whereby odors trigger a physical response based on memory of certain smells.
5. The testosterone level in men drops at an alarming rate
Testosterone is responsible for the libido and aggression of young men, and it retains its potency as we age. However, this is not the case with young people. It is found that the testosterone level in most males past their years of adolescence will drop by a third to half during the following two decades.
6. Women live longer than men
According to studies done by ethicists, sociologists and psychologists, women are more likely to live longer than men do in almost all parts of the world. This is because they feel safer to be alone than men do, and they are also more likely to take better care of themselves.
7. Senility is a myth
Today, most of us think that mental deterioration inevitably comes with growing old. This is not the case at all. Studies in this field show that senility mostly comes about as a result of other health problems like a stroke or diabetes, and not due to aging itself.
8. Our lives get shorter as we grow older
According to studies on longevity around the world, it seems that longevity has been increasing steadily for many years already. For example, there are people who live from 100 years and beyond even in places where life expectancy has always been low (like Africa). However, scientists are saying that there is a limit to our maximum age on earth. In another 30 years or so, anybody who reaches the age of 100 will be called a “supercentenarian”
9. Evolution made old people more attractive than young people
There is something called an “attractiveness dividend” that most people enjoy when they are old and past their physical prime. This is due to the fact that their voices become deeper and richer. This makes them sound more authoritative and confident. On the other hand, it has also been found out that youthful-looking men tend to sound less masculine and authoritative than they actually are.
10. There is no such thing as aging in shoe heels.
If you want to make yourself look older, it is better for you to wear shoes that are about 2 sizes too tight than wearing a pair that’s too loose. Shoe size does not matter in this case. This was proven by research conducted on the feet of more than 1600 people. In most cases, the foot that looked smaller had one more year of life expectancy than its slighter friend (who widened his stance).
The brain works in the same way as other organs in our bodies. Even though we don’t feel it, like all organs and tissues, it is likely to deteriorate gradually and gradually over time – just like muscles or bones.
Conclusion:
As we get older, our body and brain undergo changes that occur naturally. It means we are not going to die at an age of any particular certain date. If it’s impossible to live forever, then why worry? After all, it is the fact that one is getting old that makes the difference between a given moment in life and its past.
In my opinion, the most important thing in life is living every moment fully by being healthy, happy and positive. Being depressed or feeling sad because you are getting older than you did when you were a young person doesn’t make sense at all. At least let yourself enjoy your youth while you still can.
