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Fatal fame, the body's limits and the call of high office. Ever wondered... about power?
... or take a chance
Hearts in mouths, lives in the balance, swinging the match: Ever wondered... about risk?
Be there then
If we can travel through time, why aren't people from the future here telling us how? Or at least in 1980s France buying up all the cheap property? Get to grips with time travel.
Although a novice to television Edward Enfield has done rather well in his new semi-retired career. Once a Local Government Officer, he still needs all the stamina and mental alertness he can get. So Ever Wondered sent him to find out what happens when we age and if you can really hold back the years
So it seems many of the signs of ageing are internal - we can’t see them. What are the outward signs of ageing? Edward agrees to a physical test with Exercise Physiologist Dr Dawn Skelton...
Dr Dawn Skelton is a Research Fellow in Cellular and Integrative Biology at the Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary’s. She has been working with older people and exercise since 1990
Dr Skelton: Often older people lose their sense of balance. Generally people rely on their vision and senses in the neck, spine and the ankles for their balance, while older people tend to rely only on their vision. But your eyesight gets worse when you get older, so it’s important to re-train your balance.
The strength of leg muscles is important for balance as well.
If you’d like to find out more about the importance of seeing older people as individuals, whose unique experiences are of intrinsic value.
Looking after your looks can also help old age. A haircut can take off ten years, but what’s actually happening inside the mind? Edward meets neuropsychologist Dr Felicia Huppert at the Addenbrooke’s Clinic to find out...
Felicia Huppert is a Lecturer in the Psychology of Ageing in the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge University. She has a long standing research interest in health and well-being in the elderly
Edward: What’s going on inside my head that causes ageing?
Dr Huppert: Changes occur in you brain when you age, the part of brain called the hippocampus which is particularly involved in learning undergoes dramatic changes, which can be caused by high levels of stress.
Edward: So am I losing my mind?
Dr Huppert: Memory loss is a common problem which can start to occur in people aged 30 -40. It’s funny that people will accept slowing down physically in old age, but not slowing down mentally. The good news is that recently we have found that the brain and the hippocampus can be re-generated in older people - just by keeping the mind alert, and having mental stimulation which challenges the mind.
Edward agrees to a mental test, and scores very highly, in fact better then the average 18-24 year old... he never ceases to surprise even himself!
If you would like to find out more about health and old age, here are a few suggestions to help you:
Books you can read:
'Natural Treatment to Improve Your Memory', Steven Dentali, Prima Pub, ISBN 0761524657
'Age-proof Your Body: Your Complete Guide to Lifelong Vitality', Elizabeth Somer,Quil, ISBN 0688169775
'How to Prevent Falls: A Complete Guide to Better Balance', Betty Perkins Carpenter, St.Martins Press, ISBN 0312098251
'It's Never Too Late to Look and Feel Young Through Exercise', Oliver Heuts, Pilot Books, ISBN 0875762077
'Exercise for Healthy Ageing', Dawn Skelton, Available from the Research into Ageing Charity. Call 0207 4046878 for details
Links You Can Surf
If you want more information on Age Concern
Tips on the ageing game and how to live to 100!
Also on the Ever Wondered site: You can join Penny Smith as she asks are we really living life 24-7? Or discover the secrets of dendrochronology as Cathy Groves asks how does nature tell the time?
If you think you might be interested in studying more about these subjects, find out what the Open University
The BBC and the Open University are not responsible for the content of external websites
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Content last updated: 14/03/2005
