What is premature aging associated with? Why does the body age prematurely? How to identify and prevent menopause in women and men

General information

Humanity has long been looking for a recipe for eternal youth and trying to create an elixir of beauty. Thanks to technological progress, the success of science and centuries of experience in medical practice, many deadly diseases have been defeated, and the average life expectancy of people is constantly increasing. However, the aging process remains relevant and continues to interest both scientists and practitioners. The first signs of aging are observed on the face, even when the whole body is in good physical shape. Often, chronological (recorded by passport data) and biological (determined by the state and functional characteristics relative to the average statistical norm) age do not coincide.

The skin is a protective barrier for the entire body and is the first to encounter aggressive environmental influences. In this unequal struggle, the skin loses moisture, becomes thinner, and loses its ability to regenerate (restore). Fibroblasts - dermal cells - gradually stop producing collagen, which reduces the elasticity of the fibers. The skin is very sensitive and reacts immediately to the slightest hormonal signal from the body. Age-related fluctuations in hormonal levels lead to changes in metabolic processes in subcutaneous adipose tissue and a decrease in muscle tone. Repeated sun exposure causes photoaging of exposed skin. Gradually, the skin ages, various wrinkles appear on its surface: static, caused by a decrease in muscle tone; facial expressions - from frequent muscle contractions during certain emotions; gravitational, arising under the influence of gravity.

Natural and premature aging

Aging that occurs due to natural physiological processes is called chronoaging or chronological aging. Premature aging of the skin is called “hormonal aging”, “photoaging” or “myoaging”.

Biological age and the rate of development of aging processes are genetically predetermined, being programmed at the cellular level. Natural aging is an inevitable and irreversible process; its natural development cannot be stopped. Premature aging can be corrected, it can be resisted, because it is caused by subjective factors: lifestyle and nutrition, environmental factors, ultraviolet radiation, various diseases, etc. Early wrinkles can appear as early as 18-20 years. They mark those who like to actively express their emotions, for whom all their experiences are “written” on their faces: knitted eyebrows, a wrinkled nose, squinted eyes. By contracting, the facial muscles located under the skin collect the skin in certain places into tiny folds. Gradually, from repeated contractions, the facial muscles “get tired”, over time they lose the ability to completely relax, and the skin loses its elasticity and its former appearance. Premature wrinkles form: small skin folds are fixed into persistent deep wrinkles.

External signs of skin aging

Signs of aging have different external manifestations depending on the stage and type of aging.

The first type of aging is “tired face”. The elasticity of the soft tissues of the face and neck decreases, swelling appears, the nasolabial fold is pronounced, and the corners of the mouth droop. After rest and good sleep, rested skin looks more youthful, and in the evening the signs of aging noticeably appear, the face looks tired.

The second type of aging is “wrinkled face”. The face and neck are dotted with small wrinkles, the skin is dry. “Crow’s feet” are noticeable in the corners of the eyes, the upper lip and chin are marked with “corrugations” of wrinkles, and wrinkles of the upper and lower eyelids are pronounced.

Activation or suppression of the activity of certain genes underlies the development of a particular pathology and the mechanism of aging in general. Based on these findings, gene regulatory therapy has been proposed to prevent genetic disorders that affect the development of age-related diseases.

Stochastic (probabilistic) theories

Stochastic or probabilistic theories explain aging as a result of mutational changes occurring at the DNA level. Random mutations accumulate in chromosomes and are reproduced many times during cell division.

Free radical theory.

Scientists D. Harman and N. Emanuel almost at the same time (in 1956 and 1958, respectively) put forward a theory called the theory of free radicals. Using this theory, they explain both the very principle of the aging mechanism and the occurrence of many age-related diseases: cardiovascular pathology, cataracts, decreased immunity, impaired brain activity, cancer, etc. The “culprits” of the pathological changes occurring in the body are D. Harman and N ..Emanuel refers to free radicals - oxygen molecules involved in many biochemical processes in cells.

Free radicals are unstable particles with a missing electron, so in search of their missing particle, they react with healthy molecules, stripping them of an electron and turning them into free radicals. Due to the chain reaction of the formation of free radicals in the body, cell damage occurs and its biochemical balance is disrupted. The formation of free radicals can also be caused by harmful exogenous factors: ultraviolet radiation, polluted air, nicotine, etc.

Free radicals strike the first blow on the skin, provoking the appearance of wrinkles, rashes, signs of inflammation, and in addition, the development of more than 60 different diseases and aging.

In the skin, collagen, a protein that gives the skin firmness and elasticity, is most affected by free radicals. Free radicals cause biochemical changes - the formation of cross-links that prevent the free movement of collagen fiber molecules relative to each other. Collagen molecules become fused into bundles, lose their elasticity and become stiff, which manifests itself as signs of skin aging.

The reasons that trigger the mechanism of the harmful effects of free radicals in the skin are different, but the most insidious is the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin. Sun rays stimulate the formation of free radicals and the production of enzyme proteins that break down fats to form arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid causes the formation of molecules that promote inflammation and aging of the skin. And free radicals, in turn, activate special molecules inside cells - the so-called copy factors.

Copy factors are neutral molecules, but if they are activated by free radicals, they begin to migrate to the cell nucleus. In the nucleus, being integrated into DNA, copying factors cause the synthesis of toxic substances. The copy factor NFk-B causes inflammatory processes in the cell and accelerates its aging. The copy factor AP-1 leads to the destruction of collagen, the formation of microdefects and wrinkles in the skin.

Free radicals can damage DNA and RNA of cells, lipids, and fats. Inside the cells there is a protective mechanism against the aggression of free radicals - these are the enzymes superoxide dismutase, etc. Substances consumed with food have an antioxidant (neutralizing free radicals) effect: vitamins (A, E, C), vegetables, fruits, green tea, coffee, etc. True, excess antioxidants can cause the exact opposite reaction in the body - increased oxidative intracellular processes.

Error catastrophe theory.

In 1954, the American physicist M. Szilard put forward a hypothesis about the mutational nature of aging or “aging by mistake.” Studying the effect of ionizing radiation on various types of living organisms, he came to the conclusion that radiation shortens the life expectancy of animals and people. It leads to the development of mutations in DNA and causes signs of aging: disease, gray hair, etc. Szilard came to the conclusion that mutations are the cause of aging of biological species, but could not explain the mechanism of aging of living organisms that were not exposed to radiation.

Following Szilard, researcher L. Orgel considered mutations in living cells not only as a result of exposure to external aggressors (ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, free radicals, toxic effects of viruses and other mutagenic agents), but also as a spontaneous process. That is, errors in the genetic apparatus of cells can be caused by both external and internal reasons. They entail disruption of the functions of cells and the entire organism, leading to their aging and death.

Apoptosis theory(cell suicide).

The theory of cell apoptosis (from the Greek “leaf fall”) put forward by Academician V.P. Skulachev, considers cell death as an inevitable, programmed process. To maintain the integrity of the body, each cell, having lost its viability, must die and give way to a new one. Infection with a virus or mutations that cause disease and malignancy become a signal for the “suicide” of cells, so as not to endanger the death of the entire organism.

In contrast to the violent death of cells as a result of burns, injuries, hypoxia, poisoning, etc., during apoptosis, the affected cells independently disintegrate into structural fragments and are used by other cells as building material.

The process of self-destruction of mitochondria (the organelle that ensures cell respiration) V.P. Skulachev called it mitoptosis. It occurs when a large number of free radicals accumulate in the mitochondria. The breakdown products of dead mitochondria can poison the cell and lead to its death (apoptosis). The aging process according to V.P. Skulachev occurs when the number of dead cells in the body exceeds the number of newly formed ones, and the dead cells are replaced by connective tissue.

According to Academician V.P. Skulachev, the solution is to prevent cell destruction by free radicals. That is, he views old age as a curable disease if programmed aging of the body is reversed.

V.P. Skulachev believes that reactive oxygen species, in particular hydrogen peroxide, have the most destructive effect on cells and mitochondria. As a cure for the aging of the body, the academician developed and proposed the drug SKQ, clinical trials of which have not yet been completed.

Prevention of skin aging

Photoprotectors

To prevent premature skin aging caused by increased sun exposure, products to protect against ultraviolet radiation are used. The action of some of these agents is aimed at capturing ultraviolet radiation, under the influence of which their chemical transformation occurs. As a result, part of the radiation energy is spent on a chemical reaction and does not reach the dermal cells. Such drugs may have contraindications, because it is possible that they enter the body through the bloodstream through the skin and cause adverse allergic reactions. A good alternative to such sunscreen substances are photoprotectors, which contain finely ground mineral pigments (titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) that do not penetrate deep into the skin, but reflect ultraviolet rays from its surface. Sunscreens include water, fats, vitamin E, emollients and moisturizers. It is useful to use after-sun products to cool, nourish and moisturize the skin.

Hydration

Good hydration is an essential condition for preventing premature skin aging. The impact of any climatic and atmospheric factors on the skin negatively affects its moisture content, especially in an urban environment where the air contains many aggressive chemical components. When air humidity is low, the body loses water; when humidity is high, sweating and sebum production increase. Even with high humidity, if there is an increased air temperature, the skin needs protection from drying out under the influence of the sun, moisturizing and thorough regular cleansing. Low temperatures and low air humidity dry out the skin, depriving it of moisture. At low humidity and high temperatures, the skin also actively loses moisture. Drying of the skin is possible from strong winds at elevated or, conversely, reduced temperatures. Under the influence of wind, the skin not only becomes thinner, it becomes scaly and begins to flake off. Adverse atmospheric influences should be countered by additional measures to moisturize and protect the skin: the use of high-quality day cream and prolonged exposure to fresh air in a favorable environmental zone.

Healthy lifestyle

Taking care of your skin and preventing its premature aging should begin, first of all, by organizing a rational work and rest regime, giving preference to a healthy lifestyle. An organism deprived of full and sufficient sleep is doomed to develop adverse consequences, the first of which is a tired skin condition. The formation of new cells occurs during sleep, so the skin naturally restores its structure while we sleep.

Regular exercise trains the skin and increases its elasticity. Under the influence of increased loads, additional blood flow to the skin occurs, which has a good stimulating effect. Sports and exercise are good for coping with stress, the worst enemy of healthy skin.

Prolonged stress causes convulsive contraction of the facial muscles, prolonged stretching of elastic fibers and their overwork. When stressed, the skin lacks oxygen and nutrition, because... under the influence of increased adrenaline, capillary circulation is disrupted. Another stress hormone, cortisone, disrupts the process of skin regeneration and collagen formation. A reasonable attitude to life events and resistance to stress is an effective way to protect against premature skin aging.

Healthy young skin and smoking are incompatible concepts. If you want to combat skin aging, you will have to quit the bad habit of smoking to avoid the appearance of wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Smokers require additional intake of vitamins A, E, C, provitamin A (beta-keratin) to prevent the formation of a large number of fine wrinkles.

Alcohol intake causes even more significant harm to health and skin condition. Under its influence, capillaries expand, which become noticeable, changing the appearance of the skin. Alcohol intake has an adverse effect on the liver, which inevitably affects the condition of the skin. Excessive consumption of strong tea and coffee has the same adverse effect on the liver, and therefore on the skin.

Skin aging can be caused by the use of certain types of medications, so you should not self-medicate or uncontrolled use of medications.

And finally, a balanced diet rich in vitamins and microelements and sufficient fluid intake (up to 2 liters per day) help maintain normal vital balance in cells and tissues and prevent premature aging of the skin.

Progeria(Greek: progērōs prematurely aged) is a pathological condition characterized by a complex of changes in the skin and internal organs caused by premature aging of the body. The main forms are childhood progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome) and adult progeria (Werner syndrome).

Childhood progeria is very rare. The etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. In most cases, it occurs sporadically, in several families it is registered in siblings, incl. from consanguineous marriages, which indicates the possibility of an autosomal recessive type of inheritance.

In the skin cells of patients, disturbances in DNA repair and fibroblast cloning were found, as well as atrophic changes in the epidermis and dermis, and the disappearance of subcutaneous tissue. Although childhood P. can be congenital, in most patients clinical signs usually appear in the 2-3rd year of life.

The child's growth slows down sharply, atrophic changes in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue are noted, especially on the face and limbs. The skin becomes thinner, becomes dry, wrinkled, and there may be scleroderma-like lesions and areas of hyperpigmentation on the body. Veins are visible through thin skin. The patient's appearance: large head, frontal tubercles protrude above a small, pointed (“bird-like”) face with a beak-shaped nose, the lower jaw is underdeveloped.

Muscle atrophy and degenerative processes in teeth, hair and nails are also observed; changes in the osteoarticular apparatus, myocardium, hypoplasia of the genital organs, impaired fat metabolism, clouding of the lens, and atherosclerosis are noted.

Lena ages five years in a year

Yesterday, at a Moscow clinic, doctors performed the first operation on a patient suffering from premature aging syndrome.

At first, my earlobes began to sag strangely. Then I noticed amazingly deep wrinkles between my eyebrows,” says the 23-year-old girl.

When you first look at Lena Melnikova, you even begin to doubt. Well, how is this a cunning, bored 40-50 year old lady who desires wide fame and plastic surgery from the best surgeons?! Unfortunately, this has already happened.

This is what she looks like now at 23 years old

I can’t even dare to ask Lena about her personal life... Although the girl smiles courageously:

Everything is fine.

Lena has practically no chance. Diagnosis: “premature aging syndrome” (“progeria”). Medical luminaries around the world say that from the moment of illness, people live on average only 13 years. And no one knows how to restore youth or at least calm down old age...

Lena began to experience terrible symptoms five years ago. First, the face aged, and then the skin of the whole body. Elena was then a first-year student at the Mari Polytechnic Institute.

You know, how offensive it was... Guys come up to meet my friend and treat me with emphatic politeness, mistaking me for my mother. They almost asked permission to meet with their “daughter.”

After graduating from the Mari Polytechnic University, the girl decided to undergo plastic surgery. But a banal circular facelift did not help. She only left scars on her neck and temples. The mysterious process of aging of the body continued. Local doctors were able to advise Elena only one thing - take vitamins and be constantly monitored.

The girl - by the way, a certified engineer-architect - did not despair and went to Moscow. Melnikova became interested in the expensive metropolitan plastic surgery clinic “Beauty Plaza”. Its specialists decided to help the provincial woman in trouble. And completely free.

We decided to try it. If it is generally accepted that nothing can be done, then you need to at least try,” said the clinic’s leading surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Alexander TEPLYASHIN, on the eve of the operation. - Although it is not safe to operate on Elena, because the disease could also affect the condition of the internal organs.

She's so young! She needs to live normally, communicate with young people. First, we’ll make a face, and then we’ll start fighting the disease at the genetic level,” Professor Teplyashin is determined.

“I really trust the professor,” Elena Melnikova persistently convinces us. It looks like she is also convincing herself.

Yesterday morning Elena arrived at the clinic. They began to prepare her for surgery. They allocated a separate room where she waited. While Professor Teplyashin is also preparing for his very difficult work. A quarter of an hour before the operation, Elena is calm.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” she repeats and repeats. And in the end he still sobs. Some time ago, the girl was seriously thinking about committing suicide.

The time appointed for the operation arrived. Lena gets up and, looking straight ahead, strides into the bowels of the clinic with an emphatically firm gait. Suddenly she pauses for a minute and speaks clearly more to herself than to those around her: “I was very afraid of the first operation, but now I’m already having a second one. And I have no choice. My last hope". - And resolutely steps towards the anesthesiologist.

The clinic's doctors allowed the photographer into the holy of holies - the aesthetic surgery operating room. The first stage of the operation is the chest. The doctor makes an incision in the skin on the chest and prepares a special bioimplant. The composition is one of the secrets of the clinic. The main thing is no foreign silicone. Like dough, Professor Teplyashin vigorously kneads the implant so that the pliable material almost seeps between his fingers. And finally places it in the body. The second and main stage is the face. And the first difficulty here is to eliminate the scars and imperfections of the previous plastic surgery. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart. But everything seems to be going well...

After Lena Melnikova undergoes a special rehabilitation course at the clinic, geneticists and cell biologists will develop an individual biotechnological treatment program especially for her, which should end with an injection of stem cells. These cells are supposed to expel old age from a young body...

Once upon a time, the beautiful and smart 18-year-old student Melnikova had many fans. But when the disease began to develop, there was only one left who truly loves. The girl does not say his name, but she is sure that he is very worried and is waiting for her in Yoshkar-Ola. In the meantime, in Moscow, unemployed engineer-architect Melnikova lives with her brother.

People first started talking about premature aging syndrome 100 years ago. And not surprisingly, such cases occur once in 4-8 million babies. Progeria (from the Greek pro - earlier, gerontos - old man) is an extremely rare genetic disease that accelerates the aging process by about 8-10 times.

Simply put, a child ages 10-15 years in one year. An eight-year-old looks 80 years old - with dry, wrinkled skin, a bald head... These children usually die at the age of 13-14 after several heart attacks and strokes against the background of progressive atherosclerosis, cataracts, glaucoma, complete loss of teeth, etc. And only a few live to 20 years or longer.

Now there are only 42 known cases of progeria in people in the world... Of these, 14 people live in the United States, 5 in Russia, the rest in Europe...

Features of such patients include dwarf stature, low weight (usually not exceeding 15-20 kg), excessively thin skin, poor joint mobility, underdeveloped chin, small face compared to the size of the head, which gives the person bird-like features. Due to the loss of subcutaneous fat, all blood vessels are visible. The voice is usually high. Mental development corresponds to age. And all these sick children are strikingly similar to each other.

12-year-old Seth Cook looks like an 80-year-old man. He has no hair, but he has the full range of diseases that older people suffer from. Therefore, every day the boy takes aspirin and other blood thinning medications. At 3 feet tall (just over a meter), Seth weighs 25 pounds (11.3 kg).

Ouri Barnett was born on April 16, 1996. Already at the age of five, poor Ouri developed coronary heart disease. The attacks followed one after another. The baby often ended up in the hospital, but he had to be treated with the means that are usually prescribed to older people.

Ouri looked like a man who had suffered a stroke: his legs were weakening, and he began to stumble like a decrepit old man. His eyes faded, his upper lip did not move, saliva flowed, his speech became unintelligible.

Ouri's mother did a lot to convey to people her experience and her observations of the unfortunate child. From the age of three, the child was taken to filming television programs and scientific conferences. The only condition that the mother set for sensation-hungry journalists was that they should not write that the baby was dying of progeria.

The most famous case of progeria described in the Russian press is the story of Alvydas Gudelyauskas, who suddenly began to age when he was already a 20-year-old guy. In just a matter of months, Alvidas turned into a 60-year-old man before our eyes. It was only after plastic surgery that he began to look like a mature man. In the photo on the left - this is what he looked like before the operation, on the right - after. Now Alvidas is only 32 years old.

Until recently, doctors were unable to determine the cause of the disease. And only recently, American researchers discovered that the cause of “childhood old age” or Hutchinson-Gilford progeria is only a single mutation.

According to the director of the National Genome Research Institute, Francis Collins, who led the study, the disease is not hereditary. A point mutation - when only one nucleotide is changed in a DNA molecule - occurs anew in each patient. People suffering from progeria die mainly from those illnesses that are characteristic of extreme old age. It has now been discovered that progeria is caused by a mutated form of the LMNA gene.

Seven year old man and his family

Children of the Khans. Rehena, Ali Hussein and Ikramul suffer from a rare disease. He's only seven years old, but he's already going bald. This is the most noticeable of the many symptoms of the disease that Ali Hussain Khan suffers from. He is still a boy, but he is already in middle age. This progeria, an extremely rare disease, causes Ali's body to age prematurely.

Neither he nor his sister and brother - 19-year-old Rehena and 17-year-old Ikramul - have virtually no chance of living to 25.

This disease accelerates the development of children many times over. However, it also causes other problems: for example, a second row of teeth appears in their mouth, and the skin becomes very pale, almost transparent.

Such children become ill with the same diseases that ordinary people suffer in old age. Last year, their sister Ravena, who also suffered from progreria, died of pneumonia. She was 16.

As soon as Ali Hussein begins to speak, it becomes clear that he is captured by childish enthusiasm and absorbed by hopes that are not characteristic of an adult.

“I would like to be an actor, drive cars and planes, be an action hero,” he says. “And then I would like to become a doctor, because doctors test me all the time, and I would like to test myself, and that’s why I wanted I would like to become a doctor someday."

Khany is unique in this sense: this is the only case known to science when more than one family member suffers from progreria. And thanks to this family, scientists were able to make a real breakthrough in understanding the nature of the disease.

Scientists led by pediatrician Chandan Chattopadhyay observed Khanami for two years and came to the conclusion that the disease is hereditary and recessive. This means that both parents can have her gene. In this case, Hana's husband and wife are each other's cousins. Neither of them has progreria, nor do their two other children - 14-year-old Sangeeta and two-year-old Gulavsa.

In recent years, the family has been looked after by a Kolkata-based charity. The head of the family, Bisul Khan, says life has treated him and his wife Rajia cruelly. Both of them are natives of one of the villages in the Indian state of Bihar. Local residents called their children aliens, and as a result they had to grow up in complete isolation.

“When we lived there in Bihar, every evening we sat in the room, unable to sleep, because one of the children was suffering from something, then the other,” Khan recalls. “And we thought - me and my wife, we sat down side by side and thought: how can we continue to live? We even thought about ending it all in one fell swoop..."

“But now the children live,” says the father. “They are energetic, they are happy, they live a normal life, as far as this is, of course, possible.”

For the past two years, Khanami has been looked after by Sekhar Chattopadhyay, the head of the ABC Devi charity house in Kolkata. They now live in this city, although their exact address is kept secret.

The charity organization helped my father find a job as a security guard, but his salary is small, so they also help financially. But no less important than the money are the normal human contacts that the children acquired with the help of the charity.

“We support them and we have become friends,” says Chattopadhyay and bounces Ali Hussain on his knee. “Slowly I became friends with this family, and you just can’t imagine how much they love me.”

Thanks to his support, the Khans say they now live much fuller lives than before. They smile when they talk about their interests and hobbies.

Rehena says she loves Indian films, especially passionate love songs. When I ask if she sings herself, she says that she is shy, but it is still clear that she wants to demonstrate her abilities, and, having received approval, agrees to try.

"I love loving you, and when I don't see you, I can't wait until we meet again," she sings in Hindi.

Based on materials from various sources

Aging of the entire organism is a natural and inevitable process programmed by nature, which is one of the main problems of biology and medical science in general.

Although changes in appearance are natural and physiological, the timing of their appearance depends on many causal factors - genetic, hereditary, age-related. The latter are determined by the influence of the aging body on all organs and tissues, including the skin. What are the causes and how to prevent premature skin aging.

Causes of premature aging of facial skin

External manifestations of pathological withering include:

• thinning and reduction in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer;
• dryness, itching and peeling of the epithelium of the stratum corneum;
• change in facial skin color;
• decreased skin turgor and gravitational tissue ptosis;
• early appearance of wrinkles and folds on the face;
• vascular changes in the form of dilation of superficial vessels (), the appearance of vascular “networks” and “stars”;
• premature aging of the skin of the hands;
• early and .

These phenomena begin to appear from the age of 25, and sometimes earlier in the presence of unfavorable factors. With increasing age they increase more and more. Pathological, or premature, aging is accompanied by changes in internal organs and tissues and is characterized by a higher rate of appearance of changes in a person’s appearance, compared to people of the same age category. In these cases, we are talking about advancing, exceeding biological age, in comparison with passport data.

Continuous withering of the skin is associated with changes throughout the body. Accordingly, the factors that cause early skin aging are basically the same as those that accelerate the appearance of age-related changes in the body. Thus, the rate of development of age-related changes in the skin is constantly or periodically influenced by numerous unfavorable, so-called “everyday” factors:

1. Internal or endogenous.
2. External, or exogenous.
3. A combination of internal and external factors.

Endogenous negative factors

Associated primarily with a weakening of general immunity and disturbances in the blood levels of sex hormones, in particular estrogens, in women. In addition, the defective functioning of the nervous, endocrine, microcirculatory systems, excretory and respiratory systems is of no small importance for the development of premature aging. All of them provide the skin with the ability to maintain biochemical processes, temperature and barrier functions, and local immunity at the required level.

Therefore, the most common diseases leading to early aging of the skin are pathologies of the endocrine system, especially diabetes mellitus, decreased function of the thyroid gland, hypothalamic-pituitary syndrome, diseases of the endocrine glands of the genital organs, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular failure, chronic pulmonary pathology, a decrease in the degree of general immune defense, which leads to a decrease in local immunity, autoimmune connective tissue diseases.

Pathologies of the liver and biliary system, diseases of the digestive tract and urinary system, and metabolic disorders in the body are also of no small importance. The features of premature aging in men are associated, in addition to the above, mainly with a decrease (for various reasons) in the blood levels of male sex hormones, since they have a stimulating effect on the sebaceous and sweat glands.

It is quite natural that the full provision of the skin with oxygen, vitamins, microelements, hormones, etc. depends, of course, on the content of these components in the body, but one cannot underestimate their supply to the cells through the blood and lymph microcirculation system, as well as the role of these mechanisms in removal of decay products and cellular regeneration processes.

Exogenous factors

These mainly include:

• Unfavorable environmental conditions (from 40 to 60%), in which the surrounding air contains significant concentrations of chemical compounds harmful to the body;
• Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation on skin that is not protected by sunscreen, as well as neglect of the use of after-sun creams that help neutralize the effects of solar radiation;
• Insufficient, or, conversely, excessive environmental humidity;
• Poor nutrition, excess body weight and insufficient physical activity;
• Frequent stressful conditions and prolonged psycho-emotional stress;
• Abuse of alcoholic beverages, as well as smoking, in which chronic nicotine intoxication, causing spasm of small peripheral vessels, leads to disturbances in blood microcirculation and to a deterioration in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues. In addition, some chemical compounds contained in tobacco destroy proteins that contain metal atoms (metalloproteins) that take part in the synthesis of skin and elastin, as a result of which the elasticity of the skin decreases with intense formation of wrinkles;
• Dyes and preservatives for food products and components of some cosmetics, as well as household chemicals that contribute to allergic and inflammatory reactions;
• The level of social status, including biological and psychological needs and social opportunities to satisfy them.

Basic mechanisms

The mechanisms of pathological aging are specific physiological and biochemical processes through which the influence of negative endogenous and exogenous factors on the human body is realized. Among the various mechanisms, the main importance is currently given to the so-called free radical reactions, which result in the formation of free radicals and aggressively reactive oxygen species.

Free radicals are “fragments” of molecules with missing electrons. Their reactivity is due to the ability to attach electrons to themselves from other molecules. Such a biochemical reaction is necessary to ensure normal metabolic processes in the body. Under normal physiological conditions, the amount of free radical molecules is strictly controlled by the body.

However, under the influence of negative factors, especially environmental chemicals and ultraviolet rays, an excess amount and accumulation of free radicals are formed. They lead to the destruction of cell membranes, cellular lipids, proteins, mitochondria and DNA. The consequence of this influence is premature cell death, the predominance of degenerative processes over cellular regeneration, accelerated degradation and disruption of the synthesis of collagen and elastin proteins. All these phenomena are united under the name “oxidative stress”.

Collagen and elastin fibers play a particularly important role in the condition of the skin, giving it a state of strength, firmness and elasticity. With age, there is a gradual decrease in volume and quantity. But under the influence of accumulated free radicals, what is especially important is significant changes in their structure and physico-chemical properties, due to which skin firmness and elasticity decrease, wrinkles and folds form, and tissues of the face and other parts of the body appear.

Another significant mechanism is a decrease in the saturation of the skin with water molecules and the destruction of its epidermal layer as a barrier. The result is increased skin vulnerability to bacterial, physical and chemical factors.

So, to summarize this section, it is necessary to highlight the main mechanisms and manifestations of aging. The first include:

1. Slowing down of cellular renewal.
2. Quantitative reduction and structural-qualitative disruption of collagen and elastin proteins.
3. Disorder of microcirculation in tissues and increased permeability of the vascular wall, leading to skin dehydration and swelling of intercellular tissue.
4. Destruction of the epidermal barrier.
5. Accumulation of metabolic products.

How can you prevent early destructive processes?

Despite a certain “autonomy” of the skin, their successful functioning cannot but depend on the state of the whole organism or its individual systems, and it is impossible to slow down the processes of early skin aging by using only cosmetics and medications.

Since modern medicine does not have enough ways to influence the genetic and age-related factors of aging, the main efforts of it and cosmetology are aimed at eliminating or limiting the influence of “everyday factors”. Identifying the causes makes it possible to prevent aging or at least slow down the rate of its development. For these purposes, the following are necessary:

• preventing stressful situations and psycho-emotional disorders and increasing resistance to their effects;
• rational nutrition, proper work and rest schedule, normalization of sleep;
• cessation of smoking and alcohol abuse;
• treatment of diseases or correction of the functioning of internal organs with drugs and other means;
• correction of the general immune state and local immunity;
• increasing the body's ability to regulate adaptive mechanisms (improving metabolism, normalizing hormonal levels, accelerating the elimination of toxins and waste from the body, etc.);
• proper and regular skin care using anti-aging cosmetics.

Of great importance in the fight against oxidative stress is the increased consumption and external use of natural antioxidants that can block free radical oxidative reactions, as well as their use in cosmetology and medicine in the form of drugs.

How to avoid premature skin aging?

Aging is not a disease, but a condition of the body, which is determined by heredity and age-related characteristics. Currently, medicine and modern cosmetology have very little ability to influence the genetic and age-related causes of aging.

At the same time, premature decline is the object of their attention. Therefore, their main tasks are to eliminate “everyday” causative factors and early manifestations of aging, as well as to correctly apply anti-aging therapy methods. This can be largely influenced by the person himself, who is informed about the causes of early withering of the skin.

Content

The process of premature modification of cells due to exposure to pathological, genetic or external factors is called premature aging disease. The pathology is poorly understood, and the exact causes of the development of this condition have not been identified. There are a number of external and internal factors that provoke the disease. According to statistics, rapid aging syndrome is extremely rare (there is 1 sick person per 4 million people).

What Causes Early Aging

Premature aging syndrome is a condition when age-related physiological changes occur in a person much earlier than expected. Aging is a natural process, characterized by a gradual decrease in entropy (life processes) of all body systems. In addition, changes occur in various cell qualities: the protein synthesis mechanism is disrupted and errors gradually accumulate when copying DNA.

Among the first signs of premature aging are changes in the skin (deep wrinkles appear, the skin becomes thinner, and begins to sag) due to disruption of the synthesis of elastane and collagen. Changes in the functioning of the brain are noted: due to the fact that functional cells (neurons) are destroyed, a person’s cognitive abilities (for example, memory) significantly deteriorate. In addition, Werner syndrome is characterized by the following disorders of the body systems:

• Cardiovascular: destruction of blood vessels occurs, the volume of cardiac output decreases, the heart muscle thickens, loses elasticity and ability to regenerate, and atherosclerosis develops.
• Immune: antibody production decreases.
• Musculoskeletal system: rapid muscle atrophy, development of osteoporosis, arthritis.
• Sense organs: presbyopia develops (age-related decrease in visual acuity), hearing loss, cataracts, and complete hearing loss.
• Reproductive system: women experience early menopause, men suffer from erectile dysfunction, and the likelihood of developing malignant tumors increases.

Causes

Many factors of a pathological or physiological nature can accelerate the aging process. Among the reasons not related to diseases are the following:

• genetic predisposition;
• environmental factors;
• Lifestyle;
• climate.

Premature aging can be triggered by the early manifestation of systemic diseases. In this case, the syndrome usually manifests itself in early childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. Among the pathological causes leading to early aging are:

• Alzheimer's disease;
• diabetes;
• osteoporosis, osteoarthritis;
• Parkinson's disease;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• hypothyroidism;
• Down syndrome;
• trichothiodystrophy;
• dermopathy.

What is premature aging disease

The pathological process, which is provoked by premature aging and is characterized by changes in the condition of the skin, disruption of the functioning of organs and systems, is called progeria. Mental development is assessed as satisfactory. There are two types of the disease: childhood (Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome) and adult (Werner syndrome). Presumably, the pathology in adults has an autosomal recessive type of inheritance, and in children it occurs spontaneously.

Causes

It is known that rapid aging disease is a pathology of genetic origin and occurs due to mutation of the LMNA gene, which encodes the synthesis of lamins - proteins that are part of the cell nucleus shell. Genetic disorders provoke instability of cellular structures, which leads to the rapid launch of aging mechanisms. A large number of proteins are deposited (accumulated) in cells, which lose the ability to divide, renew themselves and die prematurely.

In addition, the mutation provokes the production of a truncated, unstable progerin protein, which quickly degrades. It does not penetrate into the core shell plate located under the membrane, as a result of which it collapses. This process is key in the pathogenesis of progeria. The disease occurs in children of the same parents (siblings) or in the offspring of consanguineous marriages. When studying the cells of people suffering from this disease, gross violations of DNA repair in cells and the synthesis of fibroblasts were discovered. The childhood form of progeria is considered congenital.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of premature aging disease manifests itself over time. With Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, the first symptoms of the pathology appear at 2-3 years of life, and with Werner syndrome, as a rule, within six months after puberty. The disease affects the entire body at once, disrupting the functioning of almost all vital organs.

In childhood

Progeria occurring in childhood is characterized by a sharp slowdown in the child’s growth, atrophy of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and loss of skin elasticity. The epidermis becomes thinner, becomes dry and wrinkled, scleroderma-like lesions and hyperpigmentation are noted on the body. Large and small veins are visible through the pale and thinned skin. In addition, the following signs of Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome are noted:

• skeletal muscle atrophy;
• fragility of teeth;
• brittleness of hair and nails;
• pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system, myocardium;
• underdevelopment of the genital organs;
• disorders of fat metabolism;
• cataract;
• atherosclerosis.

Due to the fact that the disease affects all cells of the body and changes their qualitative structure, all human tissues and organs change greatly. People who suffer from progeria have some specific appearance features:

• a large head with prominent large frontal tubercles that protrude above the small “bird-like” face;
• the lower jaw is greatly underdeveloped;
• beak-shaped nose;
• there are no secondary sexual characteristics;
• height about 90-130 cm;
• limbs thin, short.

In adults

The first clinical symptoms of the disease in adults appear by the age of 14-18 years. Before puberty, no signs of premature aging disease are observed. Patients begin to lag behind in physical development, turn gray and go bald. The skin quickly becomes thinner, becomes pale and has pigment spots. The limbs look very thin due to atrophic changes in the subcutaneous tissue and muscles. By the age of 30, patients develop the following signs of the disease:

• cataract;
• trophic ulcers;
• dysfunction of the sweat and sebaceous glands;
• arthritis;
• exophthalmos;
• moon-shaped face;
• sexual dysfunction.

Treatment

There is no specific therapy for the syndrome and disease of premature aging. Treatment is aimed at maintaining the patient’s condition and maintaining metabolic processes. Complex therapy for progeria includes:

1. Constantly taking small doses of Aspirin, which prevent strokes and heart attacks.
2. Prescription of other groups of medications (statins, hormonal drugs, etc.) that regulate cholesterol levels, blood sugar and support metabolism, oxygen in tissues.
3. Physiotherapeutic procedures that maintain and restore physical activity.

Aging is an inevitable process that everyone faces sooner or later. The phenomenon occurs because internal biological resources are being depleted.

Early aging may occur not at all because natural deadlines have arrived. But what causes it and is it possible to somehow stop the process? We will look at the answers to these and many other questions below.

Causes of early aging

The main reason that the body, skin and other organs begin to age early is a malfunction of the endocrine and other systems. For example, due to a lack of estrogen, women suffer from rapid skin aging.

Lifestyle and other factors can also trigger the early appearance of the problem:

1. Wrong eating habits. Harmful foods that we often eat have a negative effect on the entire body as a whole. This includes alcoholic drinks, sweets, refined foods, salty and fatty foods.
2. Stress. Depression and constant nervous tension are the cause of the development of psychosomatic diseases, as a result of which the immune system weakens and the body ages. Women are considered more emotionally sensitive than men, which is why they are more often exposed to negative influences.
3. Accumulation of toxins in the body. They provoke aging mechanisms ahead of time. They accumulate due to uncontrolled use of medications, consumption of chlorinated water, and food rich in peptides and nitrates.
4. Abuse of bad habits. Due to alcohol and nicotine, oxidative processes in the body increase, it begins to wear out from the inside, wrinkles begin to form, etc.

The mechanism of premature aging in women can trigger a disease such as osteoporosis.

Progeria - what is it?

Aging disease or progeria is a rare disease. A genetic failure occurs, as a result of which all organs rapidly age. It can appear in two forms - childhood and adult. According to statistics, boys suffer much more often.

• The first is Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome., begins to appear in children aged one to two years. Children lag behind in development, changes in appearance appear, and senile features appear.

Interesting! Life expectancy with the development of such a disease is no more than twenty years.

• The second is Werner's syndrome.. Develops in adolescents - up to eighteen years of age. Growth stops, baldness appears, weight drops rapidly, and changes in appearance occur. People with this disease live on average up to forty years.

Important! Progeria is not a hereditary disease, genetics has nothing to do with it. The reasons why the lamin gene begins to age are still unknown. Because of this, there is not a single drug used for treatment.

Causes of skin aging

You can notice the first signs of aging quite early; some people already have them at the age of twenty. The first facial wrinkles appear, facial expressions become bright. As long as the elasticity of the skin is maintained, the muscles will be able to smooth out in a relaxed state.

Over time, this property will change, resulting in deep wrinkles. The main reason for skin aging is the loss of its ability to recover and regenerate.

The aging process depends on many factors, most of which a person can control independently:

1. Solar exposure. Many people believe that we only get benefits from the sun, namely vitamin D. In fact, this is not true because it accelerates the aging process and also develops cancer. Skin exposed to the sun becomes vulnerable and photoaging develops. A similar phenomenon occurs among tanning salon lovers. Skin becomes less elastic after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. That is why it is recommended to stay on it only during safe hours; do not forget about protective equipment - creams, sprays, etc.
2. Dehydration. Skin cells suffering from dehydration disrupt their structure, resulting in skin becoming tight and wrinkles appearing.
3. Influence of natural factors. The condition of the skin is negatively affected, dehydration occurs, and premature aging appears.

Vitamin deficiency is of no small importance. Due to a lack of vitamins, the body is depleted, the skin ages, and wrinkles form prematurely.

Types of aging

The aging process can occur differently for each person.

Conventionally, everything can be divided into five types:

1. Appearance of fatigue on the face. People with combination skin suffer from it more often. Elasticity is lost, swelling appears, nasolabial folds become very pronounced. Over time, the corners of the mouth droop.
2. Bulldog cheeks is a deformed type of aging. Those who suffer from excess weight are prone to it. The contour of the neck and face changes, swelling appears, nasolabial folds are visible both in a relaxed and tense state.
3. Finely wrinkled face. The skin becomes dry, small wrinkles form in the corners of the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the forehead. The reason is skin dehydration.
4. Mixed type. In this case, several types are combined - wrinkled, deformed.
5. Muscular type- This is a type of aging characteristic of Asian residents. Clear signs of aging appear in the eye area.

These are the main types of aging, the time of their appearance can occur in different ways, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the person.

Prevention of aging

The best prevention of premature aging is to reduce the wear and tear of internal resources and reserves in the body. Below we will look at the main events.

Healthy lifestyle

Increase mental and physical activity, alternate between rest and work. In addition, you should completely abandon bad habits - this is the key to youth.

Change your lifestyle!

Normalize your daily routine, it should include enough time for work and rest. After stress, the body must fully rest and gain strength. Moderate physical activity helps combat stress.

Proper nutrition

The best way to prevent aging is to eat right. Many nutritionists have held this opinion for many years. Your diet should contain as many foods rich in antioxidants as possible. Thanks to them, free radicals are removed, youth is prolonged.

Useful products include:

• pumpkin, tomatoes, spinach;
• ginger and cinnamon;
• oranges and grapes;
• red wine, green tea;
• poultry and slave meat.

These are not all useful products, however, they are the ones you should pay special attention to.

Prevention of physiological dysfunctions

Thus, it is possible to normalize metabolic and trophic processes in the body. This includes the following:

• carry out age-appropriate cosmetic procedures in a timely manner;
• workouts aimed at maintaining physical fitness;
• use vitamin complexes, dietary supplements, and other means to stimulate the immune system.

Our health and the condition of our internal organs primarily depends on the state of our immunity, which is why we need to make every effort to improve it.

Eliminate external symptoms of aging

In this case, it means correcting wrinkles and increasing skin elasticity. Beauty industry products can come to the rescue.

The aging process will not be stopped completely, but it can be influenced. When choosing one or another correction method, you should take into account your skin type, as well as the type of aging.

You can use the following methods to rejuvenate your face:

• therapeutically - peeling, masks, massage, injections and other methods;
• hardware - laser therapy, massage using a device, as well as phonophoresis are carried out;
• chemically – performing plastic surgery.

The human body, just like the skin, undergoes many changes throughout life. But as practice shows, even premature wear can be controlled by simply eliminating the influence of provoking factors.

A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, grooming, massage, and other therapeutic measures are all the best methods in the fight for youth.

Whether aging is early or late largely depends on the person himself, but only if it is not a genetic failure. Beauty is, first of all, the result of long work, and everyone can achieve it.

FAQ

Symptoms of aging

How can you understand that early aging is beginning, are there any specific symptoms?

You can really notice early aging by the symptoms, which include:

• there is a change in posture;
• gray hair appears, and in some places baldness appears;
• fatigue is constantly present;
• intellectual abilities decrease;
• the skin becomes dry and flabby.

If you see all these symptoms, but you are young enough, you should visit a doctor and get tested.

How to avoid aging

Are there any ways to avoid premature aging?

• It is not recommended to overeat; eat up to five times a day, but in small portions;
• drink at least two liters of water a day;
• play sports;
• toughen up;
• It is not recommended to eat too hot or cold;
• sleep at least eight hours a day;
• solve crosswords, problems, develop your intelligence.

These simple measures will help you avoid experiencing the symptoms of aging ahead of time. Try to do everything from a young age, and not when some problems begin to appear.