As one of the world’s most comprehensive
and longest running longitudinal examination of human aging, the National
Institute on Aging’s Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) celebrated
its 50th year in 2008. Right
from its inception, the study’s primary purpose was to thoroughly examine the
question of what it means to age normally, and thus far, two major conclusions
have emerged.
The first thing the study has taught
us is that “normal aging can be distinguished from disease.” While we know that our bodies change as we
age, these changes do not necessarily lead to disease such as diabetes,
hypertension or dementia. Rather many of
the diseases the elderly suffer from are “a result of disease processes, not
normal aging.”
The second important finding from the
50-year long BLSA study is that there is not a single, chronological timetable
for human aging, but instead we all age as individuals. Just as children do not go through the
various development stages at an exact time, the same is true for older people. The research indicates that genetics,
lifestyle, and disease processes are all a part of what affects the rate of
aging for an individual.
As the BLSA study has progressed and
we learn more and more about the basic concepts of aging, researchers are
looking at other common health issues such as “obesity, loss of muscle mass and
strength (sarcopenia), disability, and cognitive disorders.” One fascinating study from BLSA looked at cognitive
changes in the brain and how visual memory and mental skills were related to
structural changes in the brain. Participants
underwent brain scans over a 9-year period and the results showed that even
healthy older adults lost a significant amount of brain volume in the normal
aging process. Check out the National
Institute on Aging’s website to learn more about the study.
SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted
agencies for non-medical home care in the Greater Austin area. We provide families with affordable, reliable
and compassionate services that include everything from live-in care to short
term wellness visits. Please contact us
so we can offer your family peace of mind knowing you are getting the best professional
home care available in Austin.
Source:nia.nih.gov/health/publication/healthy-aging-lessons-baltimore-longitudinal-study-aging/introduction
No comments:
Post a Comment