People of all ages can enjoy spending time together.
All living things, from their first moment of existence, begin the process of aging, or growing older. For humans, the aging population commonly means people in their 60s and older.
What Is Aging?
As children move toward adulthood, they become taller, stronger, and more independent. At some point in adulthood, however, a slow decline begins. The onset of aging happens at different times for different people. Most people start to feel some effects of aging in their 40s or 50s
As people age, their hair often thins and turns gray, and their skin wrinkles. Their muscles begin to shrink, so they are not as strong. Their bones become more fragile. They often lose part of their vision or hearing. They think more slowly, and their short-term memory may suffer. Their immune system weakens, so they may get sick more easily. Some diseases that commonly affect older people are Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and heart disease, but those diseases are not always a part of aging. Scientists are not exactly sure what causes the effects of aging. The cells of the body might have a built-in time limit. That limit would determine how long the cells can remain healthy and able to create new cells.
Aging and Life Span
Depending on the type of animal and its environment, animals age at different rates and live for different lengths of time. Rats may be said to be old at about 2 years, dogs at about 10 years, and elephants at about 40 years. An animal in a good zoo—well fed and protected from predators—often lives longer than the same type of animal in the wild
Similarly, people who live in rich countries generally live longer than those in poor countries. Disease and a lack of food cause many poor people to die before they become old. For example, an infant born in the African country of Malawi can expect to live only about 40 years. By contrast, one born in Japan can expect to live to about 80
Several other factors also affect how long people live and the quality of their lives as they age. One factor is genetics, or heredity. Long lives seem to run in families. Genetics may also determine whether people get certain diseases that can cause an early death. Another factor is lifestyle. People who keep a healthy weight, exercise, and do not smoke will probably age more slowly and live longer than others. People who keep their minds active and socialize with friends may also feel younger longer.
Aging and Society
Aging affects entire societies. Countries with aging populations must plan how to care for their growing numbers of older people. Older people generally need more medical care than younger people. Older people with major illnesses and disabilities need constant care in private homes or nursing homes. The number of health care facilities and workers must keep up with the needs of an aging society. In addition, older people who can no longer work need money to survive. Some governments and companies provide money to retired people, but others do not. Younger people often pay taxes that help to support older people. Many people start saving for their retirement at a young age.
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