In the wake of President Biden’s decision to stop his Presidential campaign, and the ongoing 2024 Olympics, age is something we are all talking about. At age 78, Former President Trump is now the oldest American to run for office and would be the oldest President if elected, both records formerly held by President Biden. Meanwhile, in Paris the oldest Olympic competitor is a 59-year old equestrian, while Simone Biles at age 27 is widely expected to become the oldest woman to secure an all-around Olympic gold medal in 72 years.
Of course, the importance of age is relative. The demands of heading up the most influential country in the world and performing seemingly impossible gymnastics skills vary, but by almost all measures we are pushing the upper limits of human aging. Adult life expectancy, calculated to compensate for the high rates of childhood illness and death common in the past, has still increased significantly. In addition, advances in technology and medical care mean that we work, travel, and participate in sports and hobbies longer than people in other eras were able to do.
That doesn’t mean that aging takes no toll. With time, our bodies and brains change. The flexibility of our joints, the ability of our immune system to fight off invaders, the efficiency of our cardiovascular system, and the speed at which our neurons process and recall information become diminished. While staying active, taking vitamins, and monitoring our health can slow these declines, we have yet to find the elixir of eternal youth, and so must come to terms with age-related health issues the longer we live.
Our psychological views of aging shift over........