Our chronological age is the number of years we have lived. The biological age is something completely different. It is controlled by genetics and lifestyle factors. We cannot influence genetics, but by avoiding alcohol, tobacco, eating varied and exercising regularly, we can influence our biological age to some extent.
- It has also been seen that personality and the mental capacity through life, how to deal with various adversities, can affect the aging process, says Lisa Eriksson Rehnman, who is a physician and geriatrician at Västmanland Hospital.
She has followed the development during the corona pandemic.
- We have seen that covid-19 strikes very differently from person to person.
106-year-old Margareta Pettersson has had no serious illnesses. The times she visited hospitals it was about accidents that she happened to suffer.
- Yes, we also see that in the geriatric department. People who have reached their centenary are quite healthy in general. They have probably been quite robust throughout their lives.
Another success factor that Rehnman has seen is that people who have been able to stay well-nourished and maintain muscle mass even at high age have a greater chance of avoiding fragility and getting really old.