The Science and Practical Solutions for Slow Aging and Selective Aging
One of the most highlighted keywords in the field of health management recently is 'slow aging.' This concept emphasizes a selective approach to improving overall quality of life, going beyond merely slowing the biological aging process. Particularly, the slow aging strategies introduced by the renowned Mayo Clinic focus on changing personal lifestyle choices and proactive health management, rather than a hospital-centered treatment approach.
Challenges Brought by Increased Life Expectancy
As of 2023, the average life expectancy in South Korea is reported to be 83 years, with a healthy life expectancy at 73 years.
This implies a high likelihood of spending the last decade of life in frailty or with chronic diseases.
Aging is an inevitable physiological change for everyone, but how one manages this process
can significantly impact the quality of life.
As the expectation of extended lifespan rises to the point where terms like 'the era of longevity to 120 years' are coined,
the management of 'healthy lifespan' in the latter part of life has emerged as a key focus beyond simple longevity.
Mayo Clinic's Proposed 'Ways to Age Healthily'
The recently published book 'Mayo Clinic's Ways to Age Healthily' offers meaningful guidelines from an aging management perspective.
Authors Nathan LeBrasseur and geriatrician Christina Chen emphasize the 'theory of selective aging'—while they acknowledge aging as an unavoidable reality, they stress that habits, attitudes, and behaviors can greatly alter its impact.
In other words, healthy aging is rooted in consistent and deliberate lifestyle changes rather than genetics or luck, from a scientific standpoint.
Key to Dementia Prevention: 'Cognitive Reserve'
Dementia is a representative disease related to aging.
However, it can also be prevented in advance and its onset delayed.
The book introduces the concept of 'cognitive reserve,' explaining that maintaining brain health extends beyond genetic factors.
For example, engaging in activities that continuously stimulate the brain, such as learning a foreign language or acquiring new skills, enhances the brain's functional resilience.
This approach boosts the brain's ability to compensate for specific areas of damage, with empirical results showing delays in cognitive decline during old age.
Five Core Practices for Slow Aging
The following five methods are highlighted as the most powerful ways to support selective aging.
1. Healthy Diet:
Reducing processed food intake and maintaining a diet rich in antioxidants are crucial.
Foods that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress are particularly effective in inhibiting major causes of aging.
2. Regular Sleep:
Sleep is a vital element involved in cell regeneration and toxin removal, beyond mere rest.
Numerous studies support the direct correlation between sleep quality and lifespan.
3. Continuous Exercise:
Engaging in aerobic activity at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week is recommended.
Exercise has positive effects not only on muscle maintenance but also on hormone regulation and brain function.
4. Strong Resilience:
Adopting a positive interpretation of stress and building psychological flexibility extend healthy lifespan.
This plays an important role in enhancing emotional stability as well as immune strength.
5. Social Connections:
Interaction prevents loneliness and isolation, while sustaining brain activity.
Regular social activities are also a critical factor in maintaining cognitive function.
Conclusion: Slow Aging is a Lifestyle Choice
Slow aging no longer remains an ideal abstract concept.
It is a practical choice applicable to all our lives,
an achievable goal solely through medical advancement and lifestyle changes.
Future cosmetics and health-based industries need to shift from the traditional 'treatment-focused' to a 'healthcare-focused' approach that considers prevention and sustainability.
Accordingly, the development of related technologies and products should be based on a sustainable approach spanning the entire life cycle.
The right choice towards healthy aging
can be the starting point for living a richer life.
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