Why DO We REALLY AGE?: What Happens to Our Bodies and Brains as Grow Older — Science Now Knows About Age

Why do we age - and what is actually happening inside our bodies as the years pass?Why does our hair turn gray? Why do we get wrinkles? Why do we lose muscle and become shorter? Why do we suddenly need reading glasses, hear certain sounds less clearly, or walk into a room and forget why we went there?And what is happening deep inside our cells while all of this takes place?WHY DO WE REALLY AGE? takes readers on a fascinating journey through the aging human body - from skin, hair, muscles, bones, and joints to the heart, lungs, brain, immune system, DNA, telomeres, and the biological processes that scientists are still trying to understand.Written in clear, accessible language, this book explores questions such as: Why do some people seem to age faster than others? What is biological age, and can it really be measured? Why does our body change in so many different ways as we grow older? What happens to memory, sleep, hearing, vision, and balance? How do sexuality and the body change later in life? Why can some animals live for centuries? What can we actually influence about the way we age? Could science one day slow down the aging process?This is not a book about miracle cures or promises of eternal youth. It is a scientifically grounded, easy-to-understand look at one of biology's greatest mysteries.Along the way, you'll discover that aging is far more complex - and far more fascinating - than simply "wearing out."Growing old is not a failure of the body. It is the result of a remarkable body that has been working for a very long time.For anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and wondered: What exactly is happening to me - and why?