Age-Related Diseases - Introduction

By 2025 it is estimated over one billion people worldwide will be over the age of 65, many of whom will be affected by age-related diseases.

In the UK, the average lifespan is 75 years for a man and 79 for a woman [Corbis].

The burden on the public health service and young society to support and care for the elderly is thus increasing.There’s a whole range of issues associated with aging – not all are directly disease related.

The biggest concern for the aged is the loss of independence. This can come about through deterioration of eyesight and hearing, which make it hard to get around. It takes longer to recover from a fall, because fractures don’t mend as quickly.

The prevalence of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis increase with age. Arthritis is a serious problem not just because it restricts movement but because there’s also a lot of pain and suffering. While cures are important, help living with these conditions today is what people want.

As we get older, it is not just our bodies that don’t work as well. Mental health is equally as important. Surveys suggest elderly people find it harder to maintain a positive outlook on life and it’s estimated 10-15% of people over 65 suffer from depression. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease may also affect the brain. These conditions are extremely distressing for both patients and their families.

Aging is a complicated process. It is hard to say why aging results in decreased bodily function and a greater likelihood of disease. One theory, based on studies in worms, is that each time a cell divides the chromosomes become a tiny bit shorter. Eventually our cells will lose little bits of vital genetic information. Damage to our cells from the environment, for example prolonged exposure to the sun, also effect our health; the longer we’re alive the more exposure we have to these.

More to follow...