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1. The Science of
Aging: Why Do We
Age?

2. While many people search for the
proverbial fountain of youth, you may be
wondering why, do we age in the first
place? For centuries, scientists,
philosophers, and even laypeople have
been debating the reasons behind aging. Is
it simply wear and tear? Is it programmed
into our cells? Are we just victims of bad
luck?
Well, not quite. Animals age, plants age,
and even rocks age. So, we know that it’s
not just a human condition. But why? Why
do we grow old? Why do our bodies age?
Why do we have to age? They are all “age”
old questions, aren’t they?
Bad puns aside, there are a few theories as
to why we age. And, while scientists are still
trying to figure out the answer to all of the
above questions and more, the last few

3. years have seen some pretty significant
breakthroughs in the field of aging
research.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most
popular theories on why we age and
explore the science behind each one. We’ll
also dive into some of the latest research on
aging and longevity, with just five of the
most significant breakthroughs happening
in our world today.
If you’ve ever wondered why we age, and if
there are any plans to do anything about it,
this article is for you.
What is Aging?
First things first, let’s define aging.
When most people think of aging, they
think of the physical changes that come

4. with getting older. You know, wrinkles, grey
hair, achy joints... that sort of thing. But
aging isn’t just about how our bodies look
on the outside; it’s also about how our
bodies function on the inside.
For example, as we age:
Our cells divide more slowly,
We produce less collagen and elastin
(which keeps our skin looking young and
plump),
Our hair follicles shrink (which is why our
hair gets thinner and greyer),
And our muscles atrophy (which is why we
get weaker).

5. Though it’s not just our physical
appearance and strength that change as
we age, our mental faculties also start to
decline. As a result, we have a more
challenging time learning new things, our
memories aren’t as sharp, and we become
more forgetful. We also become more
susceptible to age-related diseases like
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, and
cancer.
So, when we talk about aging, we’re talking
about the gradual deterioration of our
physical and mental abilities. But, of course,
it’s important to note that there are also a
lot of individual factors that contribute to
how quickly we age. For example, our
lifestyle choices, diet, environment, and

6. even our genes all influence how fast (or
slow) we age.
That said, there are some commonalities
when it comes to aging. And understanding
these commonalities is key to
understanding why we age in the first
place. So, let’s take a look at some of the
most popular theories on aging.
Why Do We Age? - Two Primary Categories
The most popular theories on the science of
aging can be divided into two main
categories: programmed aging and
damage-related aging. Let’s take a look at
each one in turn.

7. Programmed Aging
The first theory on our list is programmed
aging. Programmed aging posits that we
age because our cells are programmed to
do so. In other words, aging is written into
our DNA.
This theory has a lot of evidence to support
it. For example, studies have shown that the
length of telomeres (the protective caps on
the ends of chromosomes) predicts lifespan
in a variety of species. In humans, shorter
telomeres have been linked to a higher risk
of age-related diseases like heart disease,
stroke, and cancer.
Damage-Related Aging
The second theory on our list is damage-
related aging. This theory posits that we
age because our cells accumulate too much

8. damage over time. This damage can come
from various sources, including oxidative
stress, inflammation, and glycation (the
buildup of sugar molecules on proteins).
Damage-related aging also has a lot of
evidence to support it. For example, studies
have shown that oxidative stress increases
with age in an assortment of species. In
humans, higher levels of oxidative stress
have been linked to a higher risk of age-
related diseases such as Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
For more information please visit the
following link:
https://www.afiya.health/why-do-we-age