Call It What It Is

People talk a lot about senescence—usually without even knowing it.

Senescence (sen-ESS-ens) is the process by which cells deteriorate over time. It’s a handful of a word, unfortunately, so most folks say “aging,” instead. Like “anti-aging research” or “stop the aging process.”

But these phrases are inaccurate (stop aging=death), and they stigmatize aging itself (which includes both gains and losses) by equating it with decline.

Whenever we hear someone talk about, “the negative effects of aging,” it’d be great to speak up and say, Wait a minute—aging is actually living. You’re talking about senescence.

They’re not the same.

Photo by Fayette Reynolds M.S. on Pexels