Human bodies and minds are constantly aging. From birth to death, aging is a slow gradual process that occurs over time. Understanding aging, its mechanisms, and the ways to minimize harmful aging processes can help support well-being, regardless of how old you are.

No one is immune to aging.

Peter Pan is a fairytale for a reason, no one can be young forever. All human beings will age. Aging occurs through intrinsic factors, our genes, and extrinsic factors, the choices that we make that impact our health.

Intrinsic factors are pre-determined, predicting susceptibility to disease and other conditions that result from aging like Alzheimer’s. How well a person eats, the amount they exercise, and the choices they make that impact health are extrinsic factors that affecting the aging process.

Making good choices that support health and longevity can help human to live longer in good health. Aging still happens, but making good choices like not smoking, exercising, eating healthy foods, and minimizing stress helps increase longevity. We cannot live forever, so we may as well live in good health for as long as we can.

Ageism is still acceptable.

There has been a growth of representation in the media for underrepresented groups, yet older adults of all shapes, forms and sizes remain subject to ageism. The concept that older adults are frail and weak persists despite its incorrect portrayal of the truth (as depicted by the photos in this article). The television and film industry, beauty industry, marketing industry, and other forms of media tend to leave older adults out or stereotype them.

Researchers from Korea University in Seoul analyzed 112 episodes of American primetime television from 2004 to 2018 and only 6.6% of the characters were older adults. Of this 6.6% ethnicities other than white were basically invisible. This lack of representation feeds the idea that older adults are not worthy of consideration.

The beauty industry creates a plethora of anti-aging products that spreads the idea aging is something to hide from and work to prevent. Social media, images from companies, brands, leaders, and website rarely include images of adults over 50.

Aging is not all decline.

Ageism has created a narrative the old age is full of loss, both physically and mentally. Aging in fact, is not all decline. Cognitive development can continue well into the 70’s, given extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Making good choices when it comes to intrinsic factors prevents the likelihood of cognitive disease like Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Living in good health allows individuals to continually develop cognition alongside some physical decline.

The way you think about aging impacts how well you will age.

Self-perceptions of aging refer to the way an individual thinks about the age-related changes that they experience. Having a positive self-perception of aging means looking at age-related changes, like mobility loss, with a can-do attitude. Negative self-perceptions of aging mean an individual’s view age related changes as only a loss.

Negative self-perceptions of aging have been linked to decreased physical and cognitive performance, increased risks of disease and a lower mortality rate. Viewing age related changes negatively creates a self-fulfilling prophesy as individuals believe they cannot overcome these changes. Thinking positively about our own aging can lead to health and well being later into life.

The population of older adults is rapidly growing.

Not only do we all age, but older adults will also make up most of the human population in just eight years. By 2030, every 1 in 5 Americans is predicted to be 65 and older. This growth in the older adult population will lead to shifts in the workplace, marketing practices, food production, and entertainment. Even further, the needs of older adults will be placed in a spotlight as issues with healthcare and general well being will increase alongside the population. As the population of older adults continues to grow, understanding the narrative around aging is important for each individual as they will eventually age too.