Aging is not a disease

When one mentions aging, words such as dementia, caregiver, incontinence, falls may come into ones’ mind.

For centuries, there has been a constant battle with aging. The association between growing old and acquiring diseases was so strong that aging and disease became intertwined terminologies. Even artists described aging negatively- the Roman playwright Terentius wrote “senectus ipsa est morbus” (old age itself is a disease).

Only at the turn of modern medicine was there a better understanding of the genetics of aging and disease syndromes, which allowed people to look at aging and diseases as two separate entities.

Why than does such a negative connotation to aging exist? Aging refers to the “Process of growing old”. The value of cheese and other gourmet food increases as it ages; why should it be different for humans? As our understanding of Science advances, isn’t it natural for us to understand aging better and peel it away from old seated stereotyping?

Aging is a natural process that occurs to all. It occurs over time. If aging is considered a disease or pathological, then shouldn’t teenage hood be considered a disease state too?

A few biological changes take place as we age. These biological changes will inevitably affect our function. Aging can also result in a few age related illness such as osteoarthritis or cataract. But aging itself is not an illness.

Aging begins when there is an imbalance between the cell damage and the process of maintenance and repair systems. (MARS). It begins after the essential lifespan (ELS) which is at about the age 40–50 years for the human species.

Hence aging is normal.

There are 4 main ways to approach aging:

Currently the approach to aging is a disease orientated approach to age related illness, such as the piecemeal remedies for various symptoms. This has resulted in multiple doctors’ appointments for the elderly individual and multiple medications targeted at the symptoms which inevitably affects their psychological well-being and may even play a part in convincing them that they are old and sick.

A classic example is the treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is wear and tear of the joints and occurs to most people as they age, though at varying extents. The management of osteoarthritis should lie in its prevention, anticipation and joint and muscle strengthening exercises through physiotherapy. If it gets worse, despite all of these, joint replacement may be an option. However, in the current model of care in Singapore, the patients get referred to an orthopedic surgeon (bone specialist) in search of a quick fix. The importance of physiotherapy exercises are belittled as people traditionally recognize the doctor (rather than allied healthcare professionals) as the solution to the problem and furthermore, the pain makes exercising unbearable. Eventually, the pain gets unbearable and they request for a knee replacement. In the process of dealing with this unexpectant pain, the mobility of the individual and eventually their quality of life and health gets affected.

Hence, rather than the surprise of OA, perhaps one can anticipate this as an age related illness and start physical strengthening exercises and preventive measures earlier on in life to reduce its impact at a later age.

By approaching age related illness in a more holistic, expectant manner, we may lessen its impact on our life and aging may be seen less as an illness. We can prepare for aging in a healthy manner!!!

Though one may encounter various ailments with age, aging itself is not an illness.

Furthermore, as we age, we also have

Hence aging is good and can be beneficial to society. So the next time we want to say ‘I am old; hence I have many ailments’…. Think again… it is not because we are old…. But probably because we have not prepared our body enough when young, for the stressors of aging.

References

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