Old age or elderly life is the last stage of the human life cycle and it goes from the age of 65 till death. Although the length of this period will depend on the person’s surroundings or the diseases they’ve suffered, there have been reported cases of people living up to 120 years of age.
Deterioration of the body
The excretory apparatus and the respiratory apparatus are some of the bodily systems most affected by old age. In addition, the liver and heart also decline in capacity. Likewise, our intestines get smaller, making it harder to break-down and absorb nutrients.
Other alterations can be found in the arteries due to the accumulation of cholesterol along their walls (atheromata), which can end in cardiovascular accidents, such as heart attacks or thromboses.
The brain also suffers wear and tear due to the death of neurons, which causes memory problems, slows down reaction times and affects the intellectual development of senior citizens.
During old age, height and body size are also reduced because of the contraction of the spine, the slumping of the shoulders and a constant loss of muscular and bone mass.
