Aging and its Effects on Human Body - degenerative physical and psychological changes
Aging is a normal biological process which can not be avoided and postponed by anyone. Thus effects of aging on a human body await everyone both rich and poor although decline of biological functions which are commonly associated with aging, quality of life and finally the length of life greatly vary from person to person.
The process of aging known as senescence encompasses both physical and psychological effects which greatly depend from variety of different mechanisms and factors. For that reason there are several different theories of reasons and causes of aging which can be divided into genetic and non-genetic theories. Either way, regardless what theory is more accurate the effects of aging are always the same: degenerative changes on the skin, bones, blood vessels, heart, brain and other organs, and with time of the total organism and finally death. Besides grey hair and loss of elasticity of the skin aging is also associated with variety of diseases because of weakened immune system and increased risk of injuries because of loss of muscle and bone strength. Aging is often also the cause of decline in memory and other changes in cognitive processes what greatly affects quality of life of older people.
However, physical and psychological effects on a body greatly vary from person to person, while quality of life in old age greatly depend from one's lifestyle in middle age, environmental and genetic factors. Thus aging does not have to lead to variety of diseases and cognitive decline. In contrary one can still enjoy life fully despite being old.