Reverse Aging? Three Ways to Treat Aging

I drive myself crazy when I research causes of aging because scientists debate if aging is a disease, a medical condition, a natural process, or a pathology. Diseases are treatable, thus reversible.

Studies now show that aging is reversible, at least in human cells and live mice. And there are some experts that market supplements and wellness programs, claiming  to reverse aging. As much as I believe we can do a lot to slow it down (exercise and diet), I can’t buy into some of the anti-aging hype.

Since writing our book the War on Aging, my husband Rob and I have been investigating how we can fight aging. First and foremost, we’ve experienced great health benefits through exercise and sports. And we’ve learned how to keep on working out in spite of various physical disabilities with hearts, backs, knees and shoulders. (And often our own bad attitudes as well, but that’s another story, another book!)

I’m taking a look at how people get sick and die globally, across genders, all ages, including seniors. I want to understand better where we are going wrong in our daily health habits. If seniors are dying of diseases, then how do we treat and reverse these?

Global Burden of Diseases Study

I ran across reference to a study funded by the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation and carried out by the Seattle based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The Global Burden of Disease Study looks at all causes of death and debilitation that affect the quality of life for people suffering 291 diseases in 187 countries in the world. It also looks at changes in patterns from 1990 to 2010.

The first results were published in The Lancet in 2012 and list the world’s top health problems in order:

1. Ischemic heart disease: When arteries are narrowed, less blood and oxygen reaches the heart muscle. This is also called coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease.
2. Lower respiratory infection: Often used as a synonym for pneumonia, can also be applied to other types of infection including lung abscess and acute bronchitis. Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, fever, coughing and fatigue.
3. Stroke:
4. Diarrhea:
5. HIV:
6. Low back pain:
7. Malaria:
8. Chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease:
9. Preterm birth:
10. Road injury:
11. Major depressive disorders:
12. Neonatal encephalitis:

Global Top12 Risk Factors of Death

I’ve indicated eight of these 12 causes of death and disabilities that occur in seniors with bold type. This list of diseases points to another list, of the top 12 risk factors, listed in order:

1. High blood pressure
2. Smoking
3. Alcohol
4. Household air pollution
5. Low fruit consumption
6. High body mass index, or obesity
7. High blood sugar
8. Low body weight
9. Ambient particulate matter or air pollution
10. Inactivity
11. High salt intake
12. Low nut and seed consumption

How many of these risk factors are part of your daily life? These areas would be where you could target efforts to minimize risks of life-threatening conditions.

Our Anti-Aging Battlefields

Besides exercise, we’ve learned about other pillars of health aging along the way:

1. Diet and nutrition, partial fasting, eating plenty of plant-based foods and healthy fats and proteins. (The study of what seniors should eat is a confusing journey of competing experts with their own plans and supplements, and one we continue to slog through.)
2. Sleep: We’re discovering just how important adequate sleep is for seniors who want to age well. And, we’ve found out just how big a problem it is for millions of seniors who seek quality, restorative sleep for their aging bodies and brains.
3. Stress: Manage it. High stress triggers cortisol, which triggers inflammation, which can lead to chronic stimulation of the immune system, and worse, auto-immune disorders. Nip disputes and arguments in the bud, switch your scowl to a smile, your body and brain will thrive.
4. Social life: Be with friends. (One of the best ways to exercise is through dance, games and group activities, so become a joiner even if you tend to be an introvert.)
5. Purpose and goals: Find meaningful ways to express what really matters to you. If you don’t know by now what you care about, or if you have too many, pick one and … just do it.

3 Ways to Stop and Reverse Aging

If you want to simplify these lists, think in terms of improving only three things: exercise, diet and sleep.

After reading a ton of books on aging, they all end up pointing to these three areas of health. Forget pills, spas, and magic potions (unless you’ve got one I haven’t yet tried and that works!)

1. What can you do today to move your body?
2. What can you eat or not eat that would improve your diet and feed your body and brain better?
3. What will help you get a good night’s sleep?

Of course, we don’t always see immediate results. As my daddy used to say, don’t give up before the miracle occurs.