Myths About Aging

Deepak Chopra, M.D, put together a list of myths regarding aging people. You’ve probably heard a thousand times that as you age, your body and mind begin to “go.” You can no longer move the way you used to and your health deteriorates. This is a myth and those “facts” couldn’t be further from the truth. Aging doesn’t have to mean decline, sometimes it is just the opposite. Read further the words of Dr. Chopra for additional myths about aging.

Myth: Your genes predetermine how healthy you are. Not true. Although the gene sequence you were born with is fixed, gene expression depends on how you live your life. Simply put, we are beginning to learn that your thoughts, emotions, levels of stress, sleep, exercise, breathing, and mind-body coordination can affect your gene expression. This means that you can turn on or dial up the good genes and turn off or dial down the bad genes. The idea that we can influence our genes is the new science of epigenetics, something I am currently researching. What we may find with epigenetics is that we each have much more control over the cellular biology of aging.

Myth: Getting older means feeling older. Not true. We each have a chronological age and a biological age. Your chronological age is the age on your birth certificate and answers the question, “How many times have you, in this body, revolved around the sun?” Your biological age basically reflects how well your body is functioning. Biological age is based on everything from your blood pressure and body fat, to your bone density and cholesterol levels. It is determined by several factors and does not have to match your chronological age. How you perceive the process of aging, your expectations and beliefs; how you experience time and how energetic you feel actually determine the biology of aging. You can be much younger biologically than what your birth certificate says.

Myth: Your brain is destined to deteriorate over time. Not true. If you think you lose brain cells as you get older, and those cells are gone forever, think again. Research shows that some areas of the brain involved with memory and learning continue to produce new nerve cells every day. So while you do lose brain cells every day, you also are constantly replacing brain cells. The best thing you can do to build new brain cells is to keep your brain active with new activities and learning. One of the best things you can do for your brain later in life, research shows, is to learn anything new; learning a new language is especially helpful. One more thing about your brain: Only 3 to 4 percent of disease-related gene mutations, including mutations for Alzheimer’s disease, are genetically determined. Most disease-related gene mutations are influenced by lifestyle, including emotions, quality of sleep, diet and stress levels. You don’t have to get Alzheimer’s disease or lose mental alertness as you grow old, unless you have a rare gene mutation.

Myth: Your energy decreases as you get older. Not true. Energy levels in the body don’t depend on age. They depend on your attitude and are influenced by the quality of your life. Meditation, restful sleep and exercise are the best ways to experience a joyful and energetic body.

Myth: The older you are, the less happy you are. Not true. Happiness has nothing to do with aging, in fact, the later years can be the best time of your life. Many studies have shown that people get happier as they age. If you eat healthfully, exercise, take care of your mind and stay connected with others, you can influence your happiness levels and what I call your “Set Point.” From: http://www.nextavenue.org/slideshow/6-aging-myths-we-need-to-stop-believing/