Ageing well is the goal of any sensible person. But what does ageing well mean? In this issue of IMMPress, we read about the biology, psychology and culture of ageing. For me, this issue struck home for personal reasons. My 81-year-old mother moved into a retirement home here in Toronto about a year ago called “Christie Gardens”. I have observed remarkable positive changes in her physical and mental well-being over this period – she’s become Benjamin Button. Why is this? I truly believe that despite the biological processes of ageing such as DNA damage, inflammation, and skewing of immune responses (particularly in women) that we read about in this issue, the best countermeasure to unhealthy ageing is your community. My mom gained an instant community at Christie Gardens that she didn’t have in her condo complex – this has led to more flexing of her intellectual and physical muscles and has allowed her to thrive.
In this issue you can also read a profile of Dr. Olga Rojas. One of her quotes is unexpectedly consistent with the theme of this issue: “Even a negative result means something. You aren’t closing a door; you are opening many new doors that may lead to you what you are really looking for.” This is not only a healthy way to think about science, but it is a philosophy we can develop about our lives as we age. Yes, ageing can be negative. As articulated by Atul Gawande in her book “Being Mortal” ageing is the “accumulated crumbling of one’s bodily systems”. But respecting one’s own aging process is key to happiness later in life. Moreover, respect for our elders is a key element to our success as a civilization. I like the idea of Japan’s annual Keiro no Hi (Respect for the Aged Day). Let’s do that here!
Enjoy the issue and may you all age well.
Jennifer Gommerman
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