Nobody is going to grow old today! Every fourth Russian is sure that old age begins at 64, and almost every fifth - at 74. Sociologists of the FOMnibus Public Opinion Foundation found this out and recalled that only seven years ago, in 2005, the majority of Russians surveyed considered the “old-men” age to be very young 50 years
Moreover, even the approach of retirement age has now ceased to be feared. In 2005, it did not frighten 58 percent of people, and in 2012, the optimists increased by five percent.
The picture is the same in Europe. Sociological surveys were conducted in 31 countries. More than 40 thousand people were interviewed. The results were summarized by British professor Dominic Abrams from the University of Kent. It turned out that in the West, 80-year-old people feel the departure of youth at 52, and the arrival of old age at 69. Women, as always indulging in dreams, postpone the beginning of their wilting even further for several years.
And the well-known "midlife crisis" has moved to a later date. For example, for the majority of the inhabitants of Russia and Great Britain half a century ago, it came to the "youthful" 36 years, and today - at the solid 55 years.
During the surveys, scientists discovered another surprising fact: the boundaries of youth and old age changed in one direction or the other, depending on where the person lived. The warmer and farther south the country is, the earlier in it, according to people's self-awareness, youth ends. For example, in the Middle East, adult life begins at the age of 14: you can even get married, start working.
And in Western countries, these young years, as a rule, are identified only with graduation. In the cold northern countries, the onset of old age is postponed at least as much as 7 years from the average survey result. By the way, there is a hypothesis proving that if you lower your body temperature by 2-3 degrees Celsius, you can live up to 150 years.
So what happened to the old people?
SPECIALIST COMMENT
- Indeed, in recent years there have been noticeable changes in the determination of biological age, - explained to me the academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, professor, doctor of medical sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Director of the Russian Gerontological Research and Clinical Center of Roszdrav Vladimir Shabalin. - According to the new age classification of the World Health Organization, from 25 to 44 years is a young age, 44 - 60 years is an average age, 60 - 75 years is an old age, 75 - 90 years is an old age, and after 90 is centenarians.
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The biological age has shifted, maybe because of the comfort that civilization gave?
- No, these are the merits of that internal, deep development that matter has undergone - the intellectual biomass, which in essence is a person. The fact is that evolution, which sought to increase the biomass of mankind, has now solved this issue. Seven billion people live on Earth. The limit of the human population that the planet will withstand is 12 billion. And this number is also possible, but after it is reached, the reproduction of the population will decline. So, at the current stage, evolution is no longer interested simply in the development and growth of humanity, but in the growth of the older age group.
Why does nature need old people?
- Developed brain, intelligence, experience! The size of the older age group from 60 to 90 years old is growing 4 - 5 times faster than the total population. This means that evolution is already interested in the qualitative development of the intellectual properties of mankind. And we reach the highest intellectual development after 40 years. In addition, at 40 - 60 years old comes that wisdom that provides our common understanding of life and assessment of our capabilities. And at the age of 70, we have already formed a base - both life, professional and intellectual. And this base can be used for the further development of humankind in the biosphere - with fewer mistakes and with more opportunities for improvement.
But the body is decrepit
- Yes, age-related negative processes are taking place. But now they are gradually being reversed. Nature inhibits aging. And the body dies more slowly.
