However, individuals do not all age at the same rate: an individual’s biological age can be either older or younger than their chronological age ( Belsky et al., 2015). In birds, the strength of the HPA response generally declines with chronological age ( Heidinger, Nisbet & Ketterson, 2006 Heidinger et al., 2010 Wilcoxen et al., 2011 Elliott et al., 2014 Lendvai, Giraudeau & Bo, 2015 López-Jiménez et al., 2017), possibly reflecting adaptive shifts in behavioural allocation as expected future lifespan reduces. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a highly conserved, integrated system in vertebrates that functions to prioritise immediate survival over non-essential activities in the face of acute threats. We meta-analysed the data from the present and the earlier study combined, and found some support for the conclusions of the earlier paper. However, we did not replicate the associations with DTA observed in the earlier study. The manipulation of begging effort affected the stress response (specifically, the reduction in CORT between 15 and 30 min) in an age-dependent manner. Individual consistency between the two age points was low, but there were modest familial effects on baseline and peak CORT. Our data suggest a decline in the strength of the CORT response with chronological age: peak CORT was lower at the second age point, and there was relatively more reduction in CORT between 15 and 30 min. We measured the CORT response at two different age points (4 and 18 months). Here, we performed a follow-up study using the same capture-handling-restraint stressor in a separate cohort of starlings that had been subjected to a developmental manipulation of food availability and begging effort. Specifically, birds that had experienced greater developmental telomere attrition (DTA) showed a lower peak corticosterone (CORT) response to an acute stressor, and more rapid recovery of CORT levels towards baseline. A recently published study of European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris) found that a marker of biological age predicted the strength of the stress response even in individuals of the same chronological age. This slows the onset of fine lines and wrinkles.The strength of the avian stress response declines with age.
Water: Drinking plenty of water not only flushes out the toxins from the body, but also helps keep skin supple. These, in turn, help you look and feel younger. (Imagesbazaar)Īvoid the three ‘S’: Smoking, stress and sugar contribute to premature ageing.Įxercise: Exercising in any form - dancing, bicycling, skipping or walking - contributes to stress reduction. Read: Facial workout guide: Look younger with these 10 exercises Exercising contributes to stress reduction. For example, living for 90 years will not be considered healthy ageing if that person needs life-support at any stage or has had a very weak immune system throughout his or her life. According to experts, healthy ageing, or longevity, is dependent not only on the number of years lived, but on the quality of life too. Our biological age is calculated by measuring the largest (scientifically researched) influences on longevity.”While we cannot eliminate the ageing process entirely, we can certainly help in slowing it down. He says, “Biological age is a truer measure of your age than your date of birth. We often see young people suffering from joint pain while a 70-year-old goes on a steep trek.”ĭoes that mean we should take our biological age more seriously than our chronological age? City-based physician Swapnil Jaiswal answers in affirmative. For example, due to our regular use of knee joints, it would theoretically mean that after crossing a certain age, we are susceptible to arthritis. (Imagesbazaar)ĭermatologist Gitanjali Nandini explains, “Chronological age does not necessarily contribute to the ageing symptoms that we often see. READ : Ultherapy? Banish signs of ageing without creams, fillers or toxins Sugar contributes to premature ageing.
The first episode of a documentary series based on this study, titled Why Am I?, was also aired in New Zealand last week.Ĭoming back to the concept, while chronological age is the actual amount of time the person has been alive, biological age is determined by various factors such as lifestyle, genetics, exercise, sleep habits and so on. The groundbreaking study set in motion several follow-up researches. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (more popular as The Dunedin Study) conducted by the University of Otago, New Zealand, brought to light that every human being has a chronological age and a biological age. The question, “How old are you?”, now has a newfound meaning.