Not everyone wants to live for eternity. Yet, millions of people would like to retain their youth for a little longer. There is a lot to be said for growing old gracefully. But, there’s no harm in trying to smooth out a few wrinkles.
As you grow older, you may see hair loss, lines, and a loss of muscle mass. Joints might stiffen, and arthritis may occur. Everyone gets older, and there is no slowing time.
To combat the signs of aging, a huge business has grown over the years. Supplements to aid flexibility. Skincare products hide age spots. And even hair growth products for those experiencing baldness.
What about technology, is there a place for technological advances in the age prevention industry?
What are the typical methods used to halt the signs of aging?
Staying active both physically and mentally is crucial for staying younger for longer. The brain needs stimulation to help cognitive functions such as memory stay strong. Plenty of fruit, and water will aid health.
Indeed, hydration is highly important for bright eyes and healthy skin. Staying in the shade or limiting your time sunbathing will also keep your skin youthful and avoid sun spots.
Stay younger for longer through the following:
- Supplements & vitamins
- Healthy diet
- Plenty of water
- Staying active
- Play brain games
- Socialize
- Eat healthy fats
- Rest
Eating healthily and exercising are crucial for a healthy, long life. In addition, many people find supplements help with the effects of aging. For instance, Give Me Back My Youth is one supplement that contains collagen and colostrum to combat the aging process.
Skincare products are usually topical. But, supplements taken orally are designed to do more than just create radiant skin. Some promise to activate cellular health and reverse the signs of aging by strengthening the immune system.
But, now technology is being used by individuals and professionals to halt the effects of aging.
How is technology helping people to stay youthful for longer?
One of the reasons that seniors sometimes seem to age quickly is lifestyle. Reduced social interaction and stimulation can speed up the aging process. Mental well-being takes a hit from isolation as the pandemic showed.
Social media and technology help seniors combat loneliness. This is just one way that technology can help people feel younger. Other uses of technology range from trying to live longer to helping people stay active.
Some technology is used to hide the visible signs of aging, while others help people to improve their quality of life.
In what ways is technology being used to help people retain their youth?
Some of the ways that tech is being used to help people retain their youth are highly commendable. 3D-printed prosthetics improve the quality of life for patients. This boosts mental wellness and increases mobility. Other uses of tech in the ‘youth retention’ industry are somewhat outlandish as you will see shortly.
Wearable technology
There are a number of fitness wearables that have advanced over the years from just counting steps taken and heart rate. There are also several wearables directed at skincare and slowing the signs of aging. Here are a few.
Health and fitness wearables
The Fitbit may be the most famous of these gadgets. Originally produced to monitor exercise routines, the features have now grown to include sleep pattern monitoring. Research suggests that men and women who sleep well could live between 2 and 5 years longer.
Skincare wearables
LED light therapy masks help to stimulate collagen and thus reduce wrinkles. These wearables are said to firm the skin and reduce inflammation too. The end result could be a more youthful appearance. Incidentally, LED light therapy masks may be used to combat outbreaks also.
Cryogenics
From the normality of fitness wearables to cryogenics. Probably the most extreme way to extend life is to have yourself frozen upon your passing. So far, around 200 people have been cryogenically frozen. This is despite there being no proof that cryogenics actually works or ever will.
Virtual reality
One advancement in technology that is here already, is VR. Mostly used for gaming, VR has numerous potential uses. In the health and wellness sector, VR could be used for virtual skincare consultations and virtual meditation sessions.
It is said that people who are generally happy live longer than those who aren’t. Meditation boosts mood and makes people happier. It also helps with some cognitive functions such as memory which suffers with age.
3D printing
This piece of technology has been used to create everything from synthetic foods to machine parts. 3D printers can output prosthetic limbs to help improve patients’ lives. And they can print skin for patients needing skin grafts.
Bioprinted skin will match the patient and help to heal wounds and burns. In turn, the patient’s appearance is less affected. In the skincare industry, Johnson & Johnson has used 3D printing to customize skincare products.
There are several innovative beauty products available now. One lets users choose a unique lip color, and the device outputs one portion of the gloss.
Smart scales
Perhaps less dramatic, but more accessible are smart scales. These gadgets are an aid to an overall wellness plan. But, they shouldn’t replace health professionals’ advice.
However, smart scales are useful for monitoring several metrics and understanding your body’s composition.
You may use a smart scale to view the following:
- Bone density
- Muscle mass
- BMI
- Water percentage
- Resting heart rate
- Protein level
- Visceral fat
- Metabolic age
Understanding your body better may help you to work on areas to slow the effects of aging. For instance, your metabolic age should match your real one. If not, then you may want to make adjustments to your lifestyle.
Gene therapy
Gene editing and gene therapy are being used to try and eradicate certain genetic diseases. By editing or replacing DNA sequences, it may be possible to eliminate some diseases that shorten people’s lives.
Removing faulty DNA could lead to future generations living longer, and aging slower than humans do now.
Robots and bionics
Perhaps more for the future than now, but robots and bionics are being used already. Certainly, this area is having more success than cryogenics. The size of the anti-aging industry in 2022, was $67.2 billion. In the future, it may have to include robotics and advanced nanotechnology.
Robots may be used as companions with vulnerable or elderly people. As mentioned before, isolation can speed up aging. Companionship is vital for keeping people active and avoiding social isolation.
Bionics are being used in limbs and to replace joints. These devices help to give people their independence and aid with mobility. Being active and independent boosts mental wellness as well as physical health.
Artificial Intelligence
Another technological advancement that is definitely already here; AI is making big news in many ways. And the anti-aging and healthcare industry are using AI already.
AI can be used to analyze patient data and provide custom treatment plans. And AI is already being used to identify chemical compounds that slow aging in humans.
Summary
The industries behind wellness, health, and anti-aging, are huge. Some of the products used are very effective too. The FDA has just approved an alopecia treatment for children. And adults already have Rogaine for their hair loss issues.
Technology is now being used to help the obvious signs of aging with light therapy and wearables. And gene therapy could halt the hidden health risks of getting older.
You can help yourself though by staying active, taking supplements, and eating healthily. Doing these will help your body to stay younger for a while longer.
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