Geriatrics is genereally considered to begin about 65-70, although this age is increasing consistently, owing to better nutrition and health care. However, the answer is more properly: whatever your genetics and history decrees.
Many factors influence this circumstance, however, including nutrition and general health, bad or good health habits, infections or injuries, and so on. Certain things just go out on you, at whatever age--my knees were pretty much shot by age thirty, though they still work okay--injury.
The best defense against age is healthy habits, a healthy weight and activity level, and a lively intellect. Nothing ages you so much as a sedentary and 'mindless' lifestyle. Did you know that current medical opinion considers mental activity to be even more vital to useful longevity than physical activity?
Worst thing you can do if you want to live a long and healthy life is to sit around and do nothing. Well, and avoid bad habits such as overeating--eat less, exercise more--smoking--smoke less, exercise more--and keep a positive attitude. This is one of the most overlooked factors in health care, and one of the most critical.
2006-09-02 06:02:48
·
answer #1
·
answered by kaththea s 6
·
1⤊
0⤋
Contrary to popular thought, there is no particular age where people become sickly and weak. There is a difference in what you can do when you are 20 VS what you can do at 60 but if you keep yourself healthy and fit, you can be active until the day you die.
At 52 I cannot jog anymore, it hurts my knees but I can walk 5 miles in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. And then be busy all day long after I do that. Sometimes I feel like I did when I was a teenager and sometimes I am a little stiff in the joints but am very active. My memory is probably better than at 20 years old as I have more mental discipline now.
It is up to us how well we age. Some young people have allowed themselves to become sick and weak and then I know a married couple in their 90s who do all their own chores around the house including mowing the lawn and the man still works part time because he wants to. It's up to you. Don't fear aging.
2006-09-02 06:01:20
·
answer #2
·
answered by a_delphic_oracle 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
Dear, this can happen at any age. Some people are weak and have memory loss when they are 30, if they have debilitating illnesses. Memory loss can start every early (mid-thirties - mid-50's), and then become progressively worse so that by the time the person is in their seventies, they are diagnosed with Alzheimer's or some other form of memory loss. Just because someone is young does not mean they are impervious to disease of any kind. There are all sorts of things that can affect young people (like the young poster who stated she had weak knees). Many young people die, just like old people. There are no guarantees that because you are young, you won't get some sort of disease. And to the poster who claims that if you stay active all problems are delayed, dear you need a reality check. Exercise and other activities are certainly helpful, but NOT a guarantee of longevity and staving off of disease. Sorry, but genetics play a HUGE role in this and really account for 65% of the entire equation. The other 35% is what you do for yourself in terms of health.
2006-09-02 05:52:58
·
answer #3
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
1⤋
That is difficult to answer. We all start "aging" as soon as we are born. Some people live to be over 100 with very few problems. Others are "physical wrecks" in their 60s. From what I understand, there are various factors for this. Heredity/Family history is a big one - if your relatives lived long and healthy lives, that is a very big Plus. Then there is the idea of good nutrition, vitamins, and minerals. These things are really vital to us - they are not just a "health craze." Then there are the ideas that smoking, too much alcohol drinking, and too much sunlight are factors in aging. They may not affect a person today or next year, but in ten or twenty years, these things can make a very big difference!!
2006-09-02 08:55:29
·
answer #4
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
I have a mother in law that is 80 and really active with an active memory and spirit. I would say this is not just an age, but a gradual decline. I noticed when I turned 40 that I was not the "youngster" I thought I was. I got back to the gym and EVERYTHING improved and I am 45 now and in better shape mentally and physically than I was a 35. My mother in law said same thing. As long as you keep active in those areas, all the problems are delayed.
2006-09-02 05:53:03
·
answer #5
·
answered by sewshawn 3
·
1⤊
0⤋
Aging starts at age 30. Wish someone had told me sooner. How you take care of yourself up till age 30, can have dramatic affects on the aging process later. "Old age" is affecting younger people these days, arthritis, osteoporosis, spinal disc problems, adult onset diabetes etc.
2006-09-02 05:55:17
·
answer #6
·
answered by msuzyq 4
·
2⤊
0⤋
it depends on how yu have lived and taken care of yourself!!some 40 yr olds have 75 yr old bodies!!look at jack lalanne,google him if yu havent heard of him, but he is 90+ and is still vibrant and alert due to exercise and eating right. some days, when yu are older, are worse than others!!ask yur granma!
2006-09-02 14:03:55
·
answer #7
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
It can be anytime!! I am 15 & already have weak knees (i think its inherited though) so it can be anytime I know a 75 year old who is in better shape than some 30 yr olds it jus depends on wat u did when u were younger
2006-09-02 05:51:28
·
answer #8
·
answered by Talk-A-Holic 1
·
1⤊
0⤋
yes but any bad infections ,disease ,or accident can accelerate the ageing process
2006-09-02 05:52:17
·
answer #9
·
answered by dumplingmuffin 7
·
0⤊
1⤋