Acceleration/Deceleration of the Aging Process

While overstepping is not my intention, there are some very real reasons to find that manual therapy may impact the process of aging, starting with the idea that we may allow the process to be one of comfort rather than pain. 

We can, however, go further. Most people assume an obvious link between the structure of the body and it's function. As the body structurally breaks down there is an observable corresponding loss of function. Our question is not whether that process occurs but rather, how it happens. In previous sections we have gone into great detail to answer that question with an emphasis on neurological compression. Structure and function remain two sides of the same coin. The next inquiry is how structure and the aging process relate and how the ultimate cessation of all function, i.e.: death, fits in.

Age is a curious thing.  Without much doubt the fabled 'fountain of youth', the 'holy grail', and the immortal 'tree of life' is fiction and will always be so. However, there remains a reasonable connection between the integrity of a human structure and the length of a person's timeline. Add a traumatic injury such as a car accident that severely distorts a human structure and that unfortunate person's timeline may very well be short and painful. In that context, aging has been essentially accelerated in time. 

In engineering and architecture we may also look at a house or a building where the foundation has collapsed and the structure leans to one side or another. Reasonably, it is expected that this structural imbalance in the field of gravity will further the ultimate collapse in a relatively shorter amount of time as compared to other similar structures in gravitational balance or equipoise. Structural balance is thus key to longevity in architecture and engineering. Structural imbalance only serves to accelerate the ultimate process of collapse. 

While the human body is certainly not a building, we may reasonably argue that the same physics and understanding applies, at least in part, to everything, including living organisms, that exist within the field of gravity on this Earth. Interestingly, human structural balance remains mostly ignored and undervalued in the field of medicine. Certainly misunderstood. Why? 

Freud

As a society, we often emphasize certain aspects of balance as keys to longevity.  Balanced nutrition, movement, exercise, sleep, spirituality, work, etc... However, when it comes to the structural balance of the body and it's effect on pretty much everything, it is mostly ignored by societal standards. Much of this from perpetuated beliefs attributed to Dr. Sigmund Freud, a Psychologist who founded psychoanalysis - a theory for explaining human behavior. While revolutionary in many respects, especially at the time, Freud ultimately championed the idea that health problems not of an obvious and severe physical nature were most often a product of the mind rather than of problems in the physicality. This attractive yet stupidly-flawed theory that "the mind-can-cure-all" was of wonderful benefit to the burgeoning pharmaceutical industry (and still is), but poorly reflected the obvious reality at hand; our physicality generally reflected our state of health. 

In society today, structural distortion is often consciously dismissed as awkwardness, bad posture or simply “old age”.  We often blame the person for their own structural problems we only half-see, making no further inquiries and moving on. On the other hand, we may also consciously appreciate a person with beauty, confidence, fluidity of movement and good health, but we often fail to recognize that beneath those outwardly positive attributes is more often than not, a balanced spine and physicality with plentiful joint-space. This fact only registers to the unconcious mind. Regrettably, we have been socially conditioned to refuse the connection. Cognitive dissonance, if you will. We all, to some extent, embody a battle between what we have been socialized to see and what is right before our eyes.

Acceleration/Deceleration

If structural distortion can accelerate the aging/death process, than we must also arrive at the plausibility that reversing such distortion would have a potential affect to longevity (i.e.: deceleration). This idea however, is not only plausible, it is a current reality that already happens quite commonly within modern medicine.  

For example, a broken femur is an extreme case of structural distortion. Left unattended it will likely result in death. Without modern treatment, severe distortion will likely remain and structure, function (including movement) and ultimately a persons timeline will likely suffer. In the wild, animals that break a leg typically die within a short time. Severe structural distortions hence commonly equate to the early demise of the animal. And so it would be for the human, absent civilization and knowledge. It is only with modern medical intervention that the timeline may remain unaffected. 

Thus by virtue of medical interventions to the structure of the human body, modern medicine can currently be said to decelerate the aging process. Without such critical interventions, bodily function nor aging proceeds in the same way. From there it is then no great leap of logic to posit that a person's timeline may similarly be lengthened by other methods of medical intervention into structural problems and distortions.

Acceleration by Virtue of System Imbalance

Structural distortions such as the scoliotic and kyphotic patterns also greatly influence function, balance, movement, and ultimately, overall health.
How? That is a long explanation, adequately covered in the past sections. In summation, structural imbalance in the field of gravity causes asymmetrical disc weighting/loading, leading to accelerated disc deterioration with a corresponding loss of disc space and an increase in asymmetrical compression of the neural system. Function suffers in degrees correlating with the degrees of distortion and compression. It is worth repeating this study (from Theoretics 2):

The Association of Lumbar Curve Magnitude and Spinal Range of Motion in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5282845/

"The disc architecture changes depending on the convex or concave side of the curve, but nevertheless, high intervertebral disc hydrostatic pressures occur due to asymmetrical weight loading. Both disc and endplate physiology hence becomes abnormal. The definitive effect of intervertebral pressure change rate on the curve progression and degeneration is unknown but nevertheless these alterations hasten the degenerative processes in the IVDs (intervertebral discs). Losing its pliability, a negative feed-back loop occurs in the spine as disc degeneration further reduces the flexibility of the spine, and the increased spinal stiffness leads to further degeneration. The implications of disc degeneration in scoliosis include earlier development of back pain, poorer quality-of-life, self-image, self-care, physical disabilities and mood problems."
(emphasis added)

Spinal distortions are not as obvious as broken bones, nor left unattended are quickly as life-threatening. Yet the less-obvious structural distortions ubiquitously present in the human form carry with them a cumulative weight and effect, and are ultimately just as dictating to a person's timeline. 

Age, the Construct

Aging itself, does not occur simply by virtue of the earth rotating around the sun. Age measured in years is an approximation and a construct of humanity. Time is of course an incredibly important element in 'aging', but one crucial factor in aging over time is likely not where we happen to be in the solar system at any particular moment or just how many times we've orbited the sun, but rather, how long have we managed to endure the unrelenting force of gravity pressing down upon us and how fit were we to withstand it? This is not to unfairly frame gravity as a negative phenomenon. It is of course a key factor in our makeup and an absolute requirement for our existence. But it is, and will always be a two-sided coin. This irrepressible force, crucial to the makeup of the human form, has a range of effects; some negative, cumulative over time, accelerated by imbalance within it's field. 
​...

What happens when we remove gravity and the accompanying neural compression from the human condition? 

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Space, the Final Frontier

"Astronauts grow taller in space":
"Past studies have shown that when the spine is not exposed to the pull of Earth's gravity, the vertebra can expand and relax, allowing astronauts to actually grow taller. That small gain is short lived, however. Once the astronauts return to Earth, their height returns to normal after a few months. But still, scientists haven't been able to examine the astronaut's spinal columns when experiencing the effects of microgravity until now."
http://www.space.com/19116-astronauts-taller-space-spines.html

We are quite aware of the negative effects of a lack of gravity - loss of bone and muscle mass, etc. There are many well-documented negative physical effects to long-term exposure to the lack of gravity. And reasonably, since gravity is quite essential to the human makeup, the removal of which will have serious repercussions. As for the positive effects of life absent gravity, not-being-squished-all-the-time sure sounds good. And we may surmise that not-being-squished-all-the-time probably has something to do with an astronaut getting taller.

But how can height suddenly increase in a fully-developed human being? For that we may note that in traveling into outer space, the total mass of the human being is not changing. The body is not growing. The bones are not growing. The vertebrae do not "expand". Instead what can and does change are the joint spaces in-between bone. And in a vertical orientation, 90% or so of that joint space exists between vertebrae. That joint space is, of course, where the neurology runs and where it is also cumulatively compressed in gravity over time. In the absence of gravity and compressive force, these joint spaces are allowed to expand. The end result is an increase in total measured height.

Unfortunately, to decompress our neural systems, we can't all travel to space. The short-term 'solution' here on Earth, are all kinds of traction and disc-decompression machines dating back to the medieval rack and the Hippocratic Bench. Alas, for thousands of years only a temporary effect and relief has ever been achieved. Why so temporary? Why did the astronauts lose their gains in height when they returned to Earth? The problem (See Theoretics 1) is that a symmetrical pull on an asymmetrical structure will never have the desired level of particularity to each and every vertebrae. Weightlessness won't either. It is like a symmetrical pull on the spine, a global effect only, and will not effect or change the asymmetry of a structure. Ratio's of neurological compression side-to-side will remain unchanged as will imbalances in function. The global effect and benefits of weightlessness will thus only last for as long as weightlessness goes on. Once ended, asymmetrical and distorted spinal patterns will again re-assert themselves. The temporary space will be lost, as will the increase in height.
​A temporary magic. A brief respite. ​

Swimming, not surprisingly, is probably the healthiest thing we can do and remains at the top of the list for exercises for older folk. Only in water can we easily mimic the weightlessness of space here on earth. Neural decompression anyone? Yup. At least for a bit. 
https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/best-exercise-older-adults/

Chromosones in Space

Apart from a temporary increase in measured height, researchers have also found changes to the DNA of astronauts after prolonged time in space (and without gravity). Astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year in space. The effects on his body were measured against his twin brother, Mark, also an astronaut.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/scott-kelly-astronaut-space-station-dna-health-science/

"The study, which involves multiple independent research groups, compared Scott with his twin brother Mark (also a NASA astronaut) and looked for changes caused while Scott spent a year aboard the International Space Station, a mission that ended in March 2016. Among the dimensions surveyed were cognitive ability, immune system function, and genetics."

Findings included long-term changes to gene "expression",   The study found that "spaceflight affects how much expressing certain genes do, particularly those involved in immune function, DNA repair pathways, and bone growth. Seven percent of the genes that changed their expression during spaceflight were still altered after six months back on Earth."

Altering gene expression is, apparently, not that difficult to do, and while researchers weren't terribly surprised to find the alteration of the gene expression, "one of the actually surprising findings from the NASA study (was) that Kelly’s chromosomes grew longer while he was in space, at least in his white blood cells. The changes occurred in what’s known as the telomere, a cap of genetic material that sits at the end of each chromosome.

The loss of structural integrity results in a loss of function.

Which building is more likely to collapse first? Left or right? Once deviated from a vertical axis, a structure fights a losing battle against gravity. The deviation only serves to accelerate the process.

The spine at war with gravity will suffer the same effect.

At the spinal level we can see how structural anomalies effect neural pathways and function. Despite the dominance of Freudian Psychology for more than a century, no amount of psychoanalysis will alter the problems caused by a structural issue.

Paralysis is an example of an extreme structural distortion and neural compression to the point of severance. Does paralysis alter life expectancy? Absolutely. The length of survival is related strongly to extent of neurological impairment.

In nature, extreme structural issues such as a broken bone typically results in an early death. Only humans manage to extend their timelines.

An MRI of a scoliotic spine, at war with gravity. Note the lack of intervertebral disc space where the neural compression is most seen.

When we were young and our bodies worked so well. Our joints had the necessary space to make movement a beautiful, fluid, effortless thing. Where did that space go?

Both back pain and spinal movement are highly dependent on structural integrity. Deviations of the spine result in imbalanced disc weighting/loading, leading to accelerated wear, loss of disc space and neural compression.

Eating more vegetables won't change a distorted spinal pattern rife with movement fixations.

What does this man want in life? At this age? What would he give to stand up straight? How have his priorities and needs changed as he has aged? The physical reality strongly dictates all.

With rotations and distortions, the ratio of compression at the disc spaces will differ from side to side.

A global increase in disc space will not alter the ratios of compression, ensuring that distorted spinal patterns remain.

Swimming mimics the weightlessness of space and its positive effect on the spine.

Scott and twin brother Mark Kelly. Scott spent a year in space, allowing research to compare the physical effects against his twin brother.

Normally, telomeres shrink with age, the idea being that each time a chromosome is copied during cell division, the process chips away at that cap. Shortened or frayed telomeres are largely thought to be responsible for age-related cellular breakdown...But Kelly’s telomeres elongated in space … and then quickly shrank to their original lengths after he returned to Earth."
(emphasis added)

In case you didn't catch that, the length of DNA telomeres correlate with age and the aging process:

"Telomeres, Lifestyle, Cancer and Aging"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370421/

"Telomeres shorten with age and progressive telomere shortening leads to senescence and/or apoptosis. Shorter telomeres have also been implicated in genomic instability and oncogenesis. Older people with shorter telomeres have three and eight times increased risk to die from heart and infectious diseases, respectively. Rate of telomere shortening is therefore critical to an individual’s health and pace of aging."

Now whether or not shortened DNA telomeres drive the aging process or simply reflect it, there remains a connection between age and telomere length...and now, spaceflight. But not just spaceflight per se, rather the environmental factors which are altered during spaceflight. And the greatest alteration in core environmental elements comes in the form of gravity, or lack thereof. According to NASA, the greatest overall risk factor for the human in space remains changes in gravitational fields. Other elements such as temperature and pressure can be artificially controlled. But not so with gravity. 
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

Thus variations in gravity overwhelmingly remain the most likely suspect as the causative factor most responsible for observable changes in the human makeup during space travel, both positive and negative. 

If you picture a chromosome as an X-shaped unit of DNA, the telomeres are the little caps at the end of each strand.

An artists conception of aging and the loss of telomere length.

From there, it is not much of a stretch to note that the most direct effect upon the human body with a reduction in gravitational force is the corresponding reduction of compression on the governing neural system. And this is a good thing.

Does spaceflight offer a solution? Not really, but the insights are far-reaching.
​
​...

Gravity, it seems, is a cruel mistress. It is an essential ingredient in the human makeup and we suffer without it. But once out of harmony and balance within it's relentless force, it mercilessly pounds us down. The more out of harmony we are, the faster the process goes. Function suffers along the way at an accelerated pace. But what to do? Weightlessness and space travel offer some great insights into the effects of gravity and the lack thereof, but despite positively cited benefits, space travel, like traction machines, is not the cure for neural compression and accelerated loss of function. It is only in particularity to each and every joint space, vertebrae, and rib that we may find a viable long-term solution.

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