Wrinkles and poets!

As a first step towards conquering ageing, scientists seem to have discovered that a portion of our 23 pairs of chromosomes, called telomeres shorten with time, and might underlie the process. And what goes with it is a gradual decline in the activity of an enzyme present in our cells, called telomerase.

With over 60% of people in developed countries facing the winter of their lives, research institutions such as the National Institute of Health in USA have included ageing as one of their major thrust areas.. Answers are being sought with urgency from laboratories on why the disturbing changes of wrinkling of the face, graying of hair and weakening of bones occur, and if these can be prevented.

Ageing is the accumulation of physical, psychological and social changes that occur with time. What is intriguing is why 2 person, who went to school together and lived similar lives show these changes so differently. Why did the former chief of IMF, Dominique Stauss-Kahn have to hit news-headlines recently for his youthful “ranting” escapade at the age of 65, when the mood of most at that age in India would be, “Why should the aged eagle stretch its wings? For these are no longer wings to fly, / But merely vans to beat the air”.

Distinctions should be made between "universal ageing" (age changes that all people share) and "probabilistic ageing" (age changes that may happen to some, but not all people as they grow older including diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Chronological ageing may also be distinguished from "social ageing" (cultural age-expectations of how people should act as they grow older). As poets often express the signs and symptoms much better than scientists, I quote again from  TS Eliot. “ I grow old, I grow old / I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled / Do I dare eat a peach? (blood sugars have gone up!) / I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. / I have heard the mermaids sing, each to each./ I do not think they will sing to me”.

While ageing is generally negative as most actresses fearfully watching the mirror, and players apprehensively measuring their strength and stamina will tell you, it is not all bad.. The mind remains active for many long years after the physical decline has started. It is therefore no surprise that actors and players often turn to politics as the next productive phase of their lives.

Given the physical and cognitive declines seen in ageing, a surprising finding is that emotional experience improves with age. Older adults are better at regulating their emotions and experience negative feelings less frequently than younger adults.  

It is therefore not surprising that sons and grandsons often look more besieged and disturbed than the calm-looking octogerian with a multitude of diseases and limitations! Perhaps it si nature’s way to prepare us; at least till we find means to stratch our telomeres to longer lengths!

As published in HT City( Hindustan Times) dated 6 November, 2011.