is it true that a person shrinks when they get older due to gravity?

Question

has there ever been a study on it?

Answer 1

It is not gravity,,,iy is more complex than that.
With age, the axial (central) bones, loss calcium (they suffer demineralization), together with loss of height )loss of watery cartilage) of vertebrtal bones, and the cushion (disks) between one another....and people tend to "shrink",,
Together with the loss of calcium, the growth of bone sidewards in the weight bearing areas such as knee and hip bones, losing the normal thickness of the supporting carilage, contribute to the loss of stature...
The other factor, is the "humping" or curvating of the thoracing vertebrae, caused by loss of calcium )osteopenia) of the vertebral bodies of the thoracic vertebrae....(the so called hump of old age)..
The net result will be shrinkage, however, as I know, has nothingto do with it......
Several serious studies have been done...
You can get info from the sites;

www.medscape.com
and
www.medpulse.com
in the searching engine under gerontology, look for "height changes brought up by ageing"
also " osteogenic changes of the aged"
You will find very many interesting studies, mainly in gerontology, under the chapter "osteoporosis and age"

Answer 2

People shrink because as they age, their body loses fat and muscle, which protect their bones from the crushing effects of gravity. Gravity affects the body constantly, and it even shrinks a person over the course of a day. Water in the spinal column is condensed after a day of activity, so people can be slightly shorter at night than they were that morning. This is only temporary, however, and after a good nights rest, the person will be back to their normal height.

Another factor that can cause people to shrink is Osteoporosis, which happens when the spongey tissue inside bones breaks down and is not replaced by new tissue. Over the course of someones life, the body begins to lack in essential minerals such as calcium. This, too, can cause the breakdown of bone mass.

Answer 3

Aw come on folks - weight = gravity -- gravity compresses the body and most people get shorter with age. Actually, most people get shorter by 1/2-3/4" during each day and recover during sleep.

Answer 4

I don't have any factual information, but I doubt it's due to gravity. More due to bone deterioration.

Answer 5

yes, its not just the gravity though, its a mixture of things....muscle strenght and nutrition also plays a big role.

Answer 6

If a person exercises and has excellent posture as he or she grows older, they don't shrink. I think this disproves your theory.