Geriatrics and Gerontology

Stem Cells and Ageing

Ageing may be a complex process that involves every cell and organ in the body which results in the deterioration of the many body functions over the lifespan of an individual.

With age, the skin loses its elasticity and injuries heal more slowly than in childhood. The same holds true for bones, which turn brittle with age and take for much longer to heal when fractured. Lung tissue also loses its elasticity and therefore the muscles of the skeletal structure shrink. Blood vessels accumulate fatty deposits and subsided flexible, which ends up in arteriosclerosis. Hence, all ageing phenomena—tissue deterioration, cancer and propensity to infections—can be interpreted as signs of ageing at the extent of somatic stem cells.

Economic and Social Impact of Ageing| Chronic conditions of the Elderly| Chronic conditions of the Elderly