EVA HAMRUD, METAFACT
3 APRIL 2021
As we get older, many changes happen to our body, we become frail, our hair turns white, and our skin wrinkles. We also become more susceptible to disease and may lose our cognitive abilities.
Aging is generally considered an inevitable part of life, but can it be delayed, prolonging our youthful years? We asked 8 experts the question, 'Can aging be delayed?' Interestingly, there was a 75 percent 'likely' consensus. Here is what we found out.
What is aging?
All living things are made of cells. Scientists often grow cells in the lab to study them. In 1961, researcher Leonard Hayflick noticed that, on average, a human cell can only divide 50 times before it goes into a hibernation-like state called 'senescence'. It is thought that an accumulation of senescent cells in tissues of the body could damage other cells and play a crucial role in aging.