Ageing/aging
\ˈeɪˈʤiɪŋ\
The process of deterioration of the physical condition of a living organism that ultimately leads to death.
Whilst older people are more vulnerable to serious ailments that may cause death, ageing should be thought of as being quite distinct from disease.
As the world’s population gets older, understanding the ageing process in humans (or gerontology) has become increasingly important.
There are currently no treatments that stop or reverse the ageing process, but different lifestyles (e.g. diets, smoking, exercise, occupations) are believed to affect the speed at which ageing occurs. Some believe that rejuvenation (the opposite of ageing) may become a possibility in humans through technological advance: for example, through stem cells, biochemical repair or nanotechnology.