CAUSATIVE FACTORS FOR PREMATURE AGEING

Aging is a complex phenomenon, a sum total of changes that occur in a living organism with the passage of time and lead to decreasing ability to survive stress, increasing functional impairment and growing probability of death. Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medicine, describes aging with great details. Premature aging or “Akale Jarawastha” is the most faced problem specially by young generation now a days and this specialty is surprising ! One can observe early/premature aging in the present day due to improper life style. This review provides Ayurvedic perspectives on theories of causative factors for premature aging and study of some “Anukta Hetu” can cause premature aging.


Introduction :
Indicative parameters of Jara set by

Aims and Objective:
Present study was carried out to reevaluate causative factors for premature aging mentioned in classical texts and to find the relationship of lifestyle, occupational and social factors and mental makeup of individuals shows premature aging.

PREMATURE AGING
Before studying any Vikruta Awastha; first off all we should know the Prakruta Awastha of it. So before head towards Premature Aging; we should know the normal aging.
Jara/Jaravastha is referred as old age. It has synonyms like Sthavira, Vaardhakya, Jeernaavastha and Vruddha. It is referred as a Svabhavika Vyadhi (naturally occurring disease) [1]. It can be classified into two types further as Kaalaja/Parirakshana krita (timely aging) and Akaalaja/Aparirakshana krita (early aging) [2]. In case of Kaalaja jara the symptoms of aging appear on appropriate time and there will be simultaneous occurrence of chronological aging and biological aging. In Akaalaja jara, aging occurs before prescribed time due to not taking care of Shareera (body) by following Swasthavritta and Sadvritta. It can be interpreted as biological aging is more intense than chronological aging.

THEORIES OF AGING
1) Svabhavoparama Vada-this is the theory of natural destruction mentioned by Charaka. According to this theory, process of degeneration occurs due to Svabhava (natural) [3] 2) External factors-life span of a person depends on two factors namely Daiva (unknown factor, deeds of previous life) and Purusha Kaarana ( deeds of present life) [4] 3) Kaala (time) -Kaala plays important role in aging process. All things in the world undergo several changes before complete destruction. This is called as Parinama which is taking place by the influence of Kaala. Thus it can be assumed that Jara is also the result of Kaala Parinama [5] 4) Shareera Vruddhikara Bhava-Abhavathere is mentioning of some of the factors which promote growth. These factors are Kaala Yoga (time), Sabhavasamsiddhi (natural phenomenon), Aharasaustava (food which is taken) and Avighaata (absence of devastating causes). The gradual reduction or lack of the above factors may lead to reduced growth of a person there by aging occurs.
Premature Aging means nothing but the features or characteristics seen in Jarawastha are seen earlier than its age.

Discussion :
Aging is one of the unavoidable processes occurring in each and every living being and one cannot prevent it. Classics have mentioned it as a Svabhavika Vyadhi (naturally occurring disease) because risk of developing various diseases increased in old age.
There is increase of Vata in old age, improper nourishment of Rasa Dhatu. The dependent Dhatus also undergo improper nourishment. This process is gradual irreversible process of aging.
The Akaala Jara Samprapthi (aetiology of premature aging) can be briefly summarised as follows:
Then the function of Agni is vitiated improper nourishment of Rasa and successive Dhatus.

Conclusion:
Kaalaja Jara (Chronological aging) is inevitable but one can delay the premature aging by following healthy life style.
Ayurveda is essentially the science of life and longevity. It presents a sound concept of aging; it has mentioned various measures among Dinacharya, Rutucharya and Sadvrutta which directly or indirectly work on delaying aging. There is wide scope for Ayurveda in geriatric medicine as it has enriched knowledge of Rasayana Chikitsa. Achary Atreya gives best example for how premature aging occurs in Charak vimansthan Janapadudhwasniya adhyay. He says, An axel fitted in a vehicle which is endowed with all the natural qualities carries on and perishes in time by depreciation of its normal limit, similarly the life span in a body of a person having strong constitution and managed properly gets its end and loss of its normal limit. Such Death is known as timely, on other hand the same axel gets destroyed in the way due to overload, uneven road, want of road, breaking of wheels, defects in vehicle or driver, separation of bolt, nonlubrication and throwing about, similarly the life span comes to an end in the middle due to overexertion, diet not in accordance with agni, irregular meals, complicated body postures, over indulgence in sexual activity, company of ignoble person, suppression of impelled urges, non suppression of suppresable urges, infliction with organisms, poisonous winds and fire, injury and avoidance of food and medications such death known as untimely. This reference can applicable for timely aging and pre mature aging.