The sixty-plus body

Many older adults are experiencing healthy and happy lives due to medical advances, good nutrition, and exercise. Of course, changes due to aging are gradual and may go unnoticed for years, such as hair graying and skin wrinkling. The loss of teeth and fading eyesight and hearing may be experienced; however, these can all be compensated for with the use of dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. As a person ages, his or her height may be reduced from skeletal changes, and fat tissue is usually redistributed from the face and limbs to the trunk area. There is also a loss of muscle mass with age. This muscle loss or 'atrophy' can be lessened by regular physical exercise and good nutrition. An aging person may be more sensitive to extremes in hot and cold temperature and may experience a decrease in their natural energy and activity levels. Although these are all normal occurrences in an aging adult, they do not have to impair a person's lifestyles. For more information about the sixty-plus body, contact your health care provider.