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There
are two kinds of aging: biological and chronological. They are often
confused or lumped together under the general term aging. Although
they are related, they are very different.
Chronological
aging is
- based on
time
- the same
for everyone
Biological
Aging is
- based on
several factors, some controllable, others not
- varies
from person to person
Chronological
aging is straight forward - it refers to how long you have been
alive. The formula is the same for everyone: current date minus
date of birth equals chronological age. Chronological age is a function
of time and obviously we have no control over it. We can't speed
it up, slow it down, or stop it.
Biological
aging on the other hand describes the state of your body. Unlike
chronological aging, biological aging CAN be sped up, slowed down,
or reversed.
When
asked to share their view on aging, most peoples responses tend
to lump chronological and biological aging together and present
a view that aging is an inevitable downhill course. Most people,
however, are simply unaware of the recent scientific discoveries
about aging.
Studies
indicate biological aging is not an inevitable downhill course.
Obviously,
a person who has been alive for 85 years will have more wrinkles
than a 20 year-old. Of course this is an extreme example, but really,
think about it--what do years of life have to do with the biological
age of your body? Science tells us not a whole lot.
There
is powerful evidence that biological aging and chronological aging
are cousins, not twins.
During
the Vietnam War, autopsies of solders in their 20's revealed 50+
year-old bodies. Because of the extreme stress and trauma of war
these men had, for one thing, drastically elevated levels of catabolic
hormones, literally making them "old".
Within
the last ten years the hormonal revolution has eliminated the traditional
ideas about aging. As each new study shows, biological aging is
also a symptom of hormonal and growth factor decline.
The
good news - hormonal and growth factor decline are not inevitable,
so neither is biological aging.
If
you have a hard time with the idea of slowing the aging process
or even reversing it, you might want to reexamine your view on aging.
Science is showing a profound relationship between hormones, growth
factors and the aging process.
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