Page 31 - Seniorstoday January 2023 Issue
P. 31
Health
The A to Z
of Ageing
Dr Nandini Saini spells out the difference in chronological and biological
ageing with points on how we can stay younger – biologically
Grey hair, fine lines on the face, papery Time – It is simply the number of years
skin, the number of candles on a birthday passing since your birth. Not affected by
cake – that’s what most people associate your environment or your lifestyle.
ageing with; a number, indicating the Biological age:
passage of time since your birth. Is it really Genetics
that simple, though? There are certain genes which determine
In fact, it isn’t. We now recognize age related traits, variations in these could
ageing to be of different types – namely, affect you positively or negatively.
chronological and biological. Biomarkers
Chronological age: Certain biomarkers are associated with
The amount of time that has passed from faster ageing, like fasting glucose, cortisol,
your birth till date. Easy to determine, one LDH, CRP.
you don’t have to think twice about. Diet
Biological age: A healthy diet lowers the biological age.
This refers to how old your body tissues The difference is more apparent in cases
and cells are, based on physiological of chronic illnesses, obesity, and history of
evidence. It depends on various factors, family disease.
and is more accurate in predicting Studies also found that females were more
morbidity and mortality. particular about diets, than men.
Factors affecting Exercise
Chronological age: Studies found that people leading an active
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 31
