| As people continue to grow and age, our
body systems continue to change. At a certain point in your life your body
systems will begin to weaken. Your joints may become stiff. It may become more
difficult for you to see and hear. The slow change of ageing causes our bodies
to lose some of their ability to bounce back form disease and injury. In order
to live longer, we have always tried to slow or stop this process that leads us
toward the end of our lives. Many factors contribute to your health. A well-balanced diet plays an important role. The amount and type of exercise you get is another factor. Your living environment and the amount of stress you are under is yet another. But scientists studying senescence (衰老)want to know: Why do people grow old? They hope that by examining the ageing process on a cellular level medical science may be able to extend the length of life. There is nothing to be afraid of as old age approaches. Many consider the later portions of life to be the best time for living. Physical activity may lessen, but often you gain a broader understanding of yourself and the world. What we consider old age now may only be middle-aged some day soon. Who knows, with so many advances in medical science happening so quickly, life spans may one day be measured in centuries, rather than in years! |