As people age, many notice that their height decreases by a few centimeters. This is a natural process associated with changes in bone, cartilage and muscle tissue, reports Livescience .
When and why do people become shorter?
A 35-year study by the National Institute on Aging of 2,084 men and women found that people start to lose height around the age of 30, and the process gradually accelerates with age. According to the study, men lose an average of about 3 cm and women up to 5 cm between the ages of 30 and 70. By the age of 80, the loss of height is about 5 cm in men and up to 8 cm in women. The main cause of the decrease in height is the gradual degradation of bone tissue.
How bone destruction occurs
Bones begin to form in the eighth week of pregnancy and continue to grow until the age of 25. During growth, they become denser under the influence of muscle mass, which stimulates the formation of collagen fibers and improves blood circulation, contributing to bone growth. However, when a person reaches 25-30 years of age, the process of bone growth stops, and from about 40-50 years of age, a gradual loss of bone mass begins.
Bones are made up of collagen protein and hydroxyapatite minerals, which form the bone matrix. When bone mass begins to decline, these structures weaken, which can lead to microfractures and the breakdown of tiny bone connections, says Marian Hannan, an epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School. The accumulation of such damage can lead to osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones thin, brittle, and weak, increasing the risk of fractures, especially in the spine, hips, and hands.
The effect of muscle mass on height loss
Age-related height loss is also associated with the loss of muscle mass that occurs in older adults. This condition is known as sarcopenia, and it causes weakening of bone structure and increases the likelihood of bone loss. The loss of muscle around the torso reduces a person's ability to maintain an upright posture, which also contributes to a decrease in height.
Unlike osteoporosis, for which there is a treatment, sarcopenia is not yet treatable.
Scientists also note that a decrease in height can indicate more serious health problems. Although the exact cause of this phenomenon remains unclear, numerous studies have established a link between height loss and the development of serious diseases, such as respiratory disorders and cardiovascular problems.
Thus, height loss with age is not only a natural process, but also a potential marker of serious health problems that require attention and control.
