35 reasons why we are more fortunate than our parents

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Young people today have much more chances of a healthy and happy old age than previous generations.

Advances in medicine

1. Endoprosthetics has become better

Joint replacement has ceased to be a rarity, including due to the fact that the elderly, although as long as possible to lead an active lifestyle. A University of Iowa study found Total knee replacements: Effective, costly and booming that the total volume of knee replacements has more than doubled over the past 20 years. In Russia, according to data for 2013, there were 0, 4 Endoprosthetics of large joints in the Russian Federation, operations to replace large joints per 1,000 people.

2. Cell rejuvenation

Cell research could be a fountain of youth for older people in the future. Experiments show that the aging of mammalian tissues can be reversed Young blood does not reverse aging in old mice by altering the circulation of blood in youth. In addition, scientists are looking for ways Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains to calibrate key cellular signaling networks to repair old tissue.

3. More information about inflammation

Scientists have received more data on the role of inflammation in the occurrence of various diseases. They are associated with Controlling the triggers of age-related inflammation could extend ‘healthspan’ Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, decreased metabolism, and cancer. This is because inflammation blocks the regenerative responses of stem cells.

4. Higher safety of medical data

Computerization leads to the fact that one day hospitals will no longer lose information about your vaccinations, allergies, previous diagnoses and prescribed medications. This makes it easier for the doctor to prescribe treatment and makes the therapy more effective.

5. 3D printing

Another technological innovation that may become available in the near future is 3D printing of body parts. Researchers at Wake Forest University have grown a 3D bioprinting system to produce human-scale tissue constructs with structural integrity of ears, bones and muscles, which have been successfully implanted into animal organisms.

6. Fabric engineering

Scientists are learning to transform stem cells into other types of cells in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, which in the future will allow creating replacements for organs affected by the disease, which will not be rejected by the recipient's body.

7. Vaccine against human papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer. Through oral sex, it can be transferred into the oral cavity and cause tumors of the tissues of the neck and head. The HPV vaccine is an effective Prevalence of HPV After Introduction of the Vaccination Program in the United States to combat it.

8. Cancer vaccines

The HPV vaccine is not the only vaccine that can prevent cancer. New advances in immunotherapy are leading to drugs that train the body to fight tumor cells. For example, Cuban scientists have developed a vaccine against lung cancer CIMAvax Lung Cancer Vaccine, American scientists - against prostate cancer Vaccine Treatment for Prostate Cancer.

9. Sequencing of the human genome

Scientists are trying to get complete information All About The Human Genome Project about which genes may be responsible for various diseases. This creates tremendous opportunities for the prevention and treatment of diseases.

10. Genetic screening

The more information we get about the genes that trigger certain diseases, the more useful screening can be. Thus, information about one family member can be used to prevent diseases in his relatives. For example, if someone in the family has breast cancer, it will be possible to find out the risk to others and do, for example, a prophylactic mastectomy.

11. Targeted cancer therapy

Targeted Cancer Therapies are replacing destructive chemotherapy, which can recognize altered cells and fight only with them. This is especially important for the elderly, who are highly susceptible to the side effects of conventional treatments.

12. New antibiotic

Older people are particularly vulnerable to infections, and the emergence of bacteria that are difficult to control with traditional medicines is worrying. However, scientists at Northeastern University recently discovered A new antibiotic kills pathogens without detectable resistance, the first new antibiotic in 30 years. The drug may be available for use in the next five years.

13. New ways to prevent and treat stroke

A new instrument has been developed to eliminate blood clots that cause stroke. It is inserted into a blood vessel through a small catheter and then a blood clot is removed. Studies show Solitaire flow restoration device versus the Merci Retriever in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (SWIFT): a randomized, parallel-group, non-inferiority trial that patients who tested the new device recovered from a stroke faster and with fewer complications than those who were traditionally treated.

14. Clearer ultrasound readings

Ultrasound examination helps to identify many diseases, to observe what is happening to the body in real time. Previously, ultrasound machines were cumbersome, so they were not always used when needed. However, now there are portable scanners that can display an image on a smartphone or tablet. And of course, the quality of the picture and the qualifications of the specialists responsible for the research have improved.

15. Minimally invasive surgery

For many operations, you no longer need to make large, painful incisions that delay the recovery period. Laparoscopic surgery allows you to reach the site of intervention through small holes. This reduces the risk of complications after surgery and can positively affect the patient's quality of life in the long term.

16. Surgery of natural holes

Better than minimal cuts, there can only be no cuts. To perform such operations, doctors enter the human body through passages already created by nature. While this technique remains technically challenging, it provides faster recovery, less pain, and fewer complications.

17. More research on gut bacteria

Studies of gut bacteria reveal their relationship to a variety of life processes, from appetite control to mood swings. Revealed a relationship even between bacteria and Parkinson's disease Gut Microbiota Regulate Motor Deficits and Neuroinflammation in a Model of Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Gut bacteria may play a role in Alzheimer's disease. In the future, this knowledge can be used to combat ailments.

Healthy eating

18. More plant foods in the diet

The current generation has more knowledge about proper nutrition, and one of its tenets is more plant foods rich in fiber. The Association Between Dietary Patterns at Midlife and Health in Aging: An Observational Study, conducted at Harvard, found that women who, aged 50-60, ate more plant foods, whole grains and fish, and less red and processed meat, 40% were less likely to have chronic diseases after 70 years.

19. Better understanding of which foods are bad for us

As science advances, we become more aware of how foods actually affect our body. For example, fats that have recently been in disgrace are fully justified. Research shows that one egg per day reduces the risk of stroke by Meta-analysis of Egg Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke by 12%. But the consumption of sugar, which was previously beyond suspicion, is really better to reduce.

20. Detailed labeling on products

In many countries, manufacturers are required to indicate on the label the content of trans fats, vegetable substitutes for animal fat, potential allergens, hidden sugars and other ingredients that the consumer would like to know about. This helps people better control their diet.

Technologies

21. Digital detection of pathologies

In the case of oncology, early diagnosis is critical. Modern methods make it possible to digitize biomaterial and send it to specialists located anywhere in the world. This approach reduces the Digital Pathology Could Improve Accuracy, Timeliness of Cancer Diagnosis, the time to make a diagnosis in difficult cases from several weeks to several hours.

22. Robotic surgery

Among the advantages of robotic surgery are high maneuverability and the ability to work in hard-to-reach areas of the human body. It still remains a controversial topic, however, it has been established that the use of robotic systems in some cases allows Robot Performs First-Ever Surgery Inside Human Eye to obtain a more accurate surgical technique compared to the actions of human hands.

23. Telesurgery

Another possible innovation in surgery is the ability to perform manipulations remotely. This will help patients receive better and more qualified care in difficult cases, especially if they are in rural areas. The Florida Hospital Nicholson Center Changes How Robotic Surgery Is Learned experiments have already been carried out in America, as a result of which such operations are considered safe and effective.

24. Telehealth

Telemedicine allows doctors to remotely monitor people's health on an ongoing basis, which is important for those who live in remote areas. In difficult cases, video communication allows you to attract highly qualified specialists, who would have been impossible to get advice without technical progress.

25. Applications for smartphones

In a mobile phone, you can collect several applications at once that will help you monitor your health. These are brain-enhancing puzzles, pedometers, fitness trackers, calorie counting services, and applications for keeping blood pressure, blood sugar levels and so on. All this greatly simplifies the monitoring of vital indicators.

26. Fitness trackers

For many, fitness trackers are becoming a motivator to be more active. A University of Wisconsin study showed Fitbit May Help Boost Activity in Older Women that women in their 50s and 60s who were given trackers increased their physical activity by 62 minutes per week and an additional 789 steps per day.

27. Body-worn health sensors

Health innovations include a T-shirt with a built-in heart rate monitor, headphones that measure body temperature, a glucose sensor for diabetics, and an ECG monitor that transmits data to a smartphone. These and other sensors help people to be more mobile, not dependent on bulky devices and quickly learn about negative changes in the body.

28. Communication on the Internet

Social media is helping seniors communicate more than ever. Thanks to technology, they stay in touch with family members who live far away, find old friends.

Social change

29. Changing attitudes towards aging

The saying “Age is just numbers” has ceased to be just words, now it is more customary to focus on opportunities, and not on the number of years. An optimistic attitude towards old age has a beneficial effect on health. Scientists at Yale University found that older people with a positive attitude towards age lived at 7.5 Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. years longer.

30. Exercises for the brain

Exercising the brain can help it stay young and be as active as possible. According to studies, people who did not exercise the brain in old age had a 50% decrease in life-span cognitive activity, neuropathologic burden, and cognitive aging more than those who did moderate brain training. Harvard Medical School advises loading the mind with reading, puzzles, chess.

31. Quitting smoking

Smoking remains one of the most common bad habits, however, in recent years, the number of cigarette users has decreased in many countries. In Russia, this process is not proceeding very quickly: in 2016, the number of smokers in Russia amounted to 28% of the country's population, and in 2017 the figure was 26%.

32. Raising awareness of environmental factors

Research shows the Cumulative Lead Exposure and Prospective Change in Cognition among Elderly Men: The VA Normative Aging Study that the aging brain can be particularly susceptible to environmental influences. It stimulates you to keep your brain youthful in a variety of ways, as well as minimize your contribution to environmental pollution.

33. Good hygiene

Basic knowledge of hygiene helps us stay healthy for longer. For example, children are no longer taught to cover their mouth with their palm when coughing and sneezing (it is better to cover themselves with the bend of the elbow), because this leads to the spread of bacteria.

In addition, there are prerequisites for establishing a link between oral hygiene and the rate of aging. Scientists found that among 5, 5 thousand women, those who neglected oral hygiene were 65% more likely to develop dementia. Dental health linked to dementia risk.

34. More communication in maturity

Older people now lead a more active social life than before. At the same time, Social Networks Linked to Better Health for Older Adults, Studies Find that regular meetings with family and friends are associated with better health in the years to come.

35. Better understanding of the role of stress

Understanding the destructive role of stress has led to an understanding of the importance of work-life balance. Heavy exercise can lead to cell damage, heart disease, and other ailments. Therefore, the vector of achieving goals at any cost changes to the ability to enjoy the "slow" life.