Why do people grow old?

            Ageing is a result of the gradual failure of the body’s cells and organs to replace or repair themselves. This is because there is a limit to the number of times that each cell can divide. As the body’s cells begin to near this limit, the rate at which they divide slows down. Sometimes the new cells that are produced have defects or do not carry out their usual task effectively. Organs can then begin to fail, tissues change in structure, and the chemical reactions that power the body become less efficient.

How does the body change with increasing age?

            Older people are no longer growing, and so they are not as active as they used to be. For this reason they do not need to eat as much, and quite often become thinner. The body loses muscle as well as fat, and sometimes older people become unsteady on their feet.

Why does the skin become wrinkled?

            The skin becomes looser as people age. As skin sags it forms into wrinkles and creases. This happens because the fibres of collagen that normally provide support to the skin become weaker. Smoking and over-exposure to the Sun can make skin more likely to wrinkle.

Picture Credit: Google