We are all programmed through our DNA codes to age differently. External factors also influence aging; these factors are part of one's programming in the simulation of reality, which sets the course of our lives from birth until the end.
Nothing seems to age a person faster than mental illness and substance abuse. Depression and anxiety are rampant as of 2022, especially after Covid began two years ago, leaving people burned out. This situation is sometimes labeled 'end times' as people disconnect from the simulation, perceiving a looming end. The focus is often on Covid, climate, crime, and chaos.
Aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. In humans, aging refers to a multidimensional process involving physical, psychological, and social changes. Some dimensions of aging expand over time, while others decline. For instance, reaction time may slow with age, while knowledge and wisdom may expand. Research shows that even late in life, there is potential for physical, mental, and social growth and development. Aging is an important aspect of human societies, reflecting both biological changes and cultural conventions. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide die each day from age-related causes.
Age is measured chronologically, with birthdays often being significant events. However, the term “aging” can be ambiguous. Distinctions may be made between:
Differences are sometimes made among the elderly, dividing them into categories such as the young old (65-74), the middle old (75-84), and the oldest old (85+). Chronological age does not always correlate with functional age, as two people of the same chronological age may differ in mental and physical capacities. Various nations and organizations classify age differently.
Population aging refers to the increase in the number and proportion of older people in society, driven by migration, longer life expectancy, and decreased birth rates. Aging impacts society significantly. Young people are more likely to commit crimes, push for change, adopt new technologies, and require education, while older people have different societal and governmental needs and often have more political influence due to higher voting rates.
Recent scientific advances in rejuvenation and extending the lifespan of model animals (e.g., mice - 2.5 times, yeast - 15 times, nematodes - 10 times) and discoveries of species with negligible senescence offer hope for achieving negligible senescence (cancellation of aging) in humans, reversing aging, or at least significantly delaying it. Despite these developments, anti-aging and life extension research remains underfunded, and societal awareness and demand for cancelling human aging are still lacking. The body continues to age technically after death as it progresses from birth.
In biology, senescence refers to the state or process of aging. Cellular senescence is where isolated cells show a limited ability to divide (the Hayflick Limit, discovered by Leonard Hayflick in 1961). Organismal senescence is characterized by a declining ability to respond to stress, increasing homeostatic imbalance, and greater disease risk, inevitably ending in death. Some researchers view aging as a disease, considering it similar to other genetically influenced conditions that might be treatable.