What They Don’t Tell You About Aging (Until It’s Too Late)

There’s Shrinkage

It’s true, you know, that you start losing inches as you age. Gravity begins to take its toll about the time you are in your 30s. You may be shorter by a few centimeters or inches by the time you are in your mid-40s. In fact, the University of Arkansas for Medical Science reported that women lose 2 inches or more between 30 and 70 years of age. Men only lose about an inch or so.

But it’s not just your height that shrinks. Your brain does too. Yeah, you read that right. Your brain’s hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, both of which are important to your memory and learning, start shriveling around 30 years old. Not to startle you, but you lose around 50,000 neurons a day.

Don’t worry. There are over 100 billion neurons within your brain, and you can actually reduce that number of dying neurons by staying active and curious. It’s called neuroplasticity.

Men also face a unique form of shrinkage and wrinkling. Just like womens’ breasts get less firm, men will notice that their scrotum hangs a bit more and that their testicles and penis gets smaller. But don’t worry! Both men and women can maintain healthy sexual relationships as they age.