As we age, we are more likely to develop certain illnesses and diseases, such as hearing loss, blindness, heart problems, and other various conditions. This is simply because of the aging process— or is it? We assume that certain conditions are normal because they are more common within the senior population (those aged 65 and older), but this isn’t necessarily true.

Because age-related conditions are often debilitating, aging is often associated with decreased mobility, moving into an assisted living facility, and a lower quality of life overall. Fortunately, this is not the case for all senior citizens— but it is becoming more common among those over the age of 75. Here are four examples of age-related conditions (some serious and some not so serious), what causes them, and how they affect your well-being.

#1: Wrinkles

One of the first indicators of aging is the appearance of wrinkles on the skin. Wrinkles are caused by a variety of factors, including diet, smoking, sun exposure, and a poor skincare routine. When the skin loses elasticity, wrinkles form, so it’s important to include collagen in your skincare routine.

Wrinkles themselves don’t necessarily affect your well-being, but the causes of wrinkles can be. For instance, the sun (and tanning beds) expose your skin to UVA and UVB rays. Not only does this cause wrinkles, but it can also cause skin cancer.

#2: Hypertension

Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is one of the most common age-related illnesses. Diets high in salt, fat, and cholesterol are the biggest contributors to hypertension, but having a family history of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and/or kidney problems can also lead to high blood pressure.

Healthy blood pressure levels read lower than 120 over 80. Anything higher than that can lead to long-term damage to various parts of the body. Hypertension can damage the walls of the arteries (causing an aneurysm), the heart (causing heart failure or a heart attack), and the brain (causing a stroke).

#3: Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a variety of illnesses that include symptoms such as memory loss, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. This happens when brain cells become damaged, but it’s not exactly clear what causes this damage. It is known that dementia is a genetic condition and can be passed down in families. Some of the most common types of dementia include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia with Lewy Bodies
• Parkinson’s disease
• Vascular dementia

Because all types of dementia include a loss of cognitive function (some include a loss of physical function), specialized medical care is usually required— especially as the disease progresses. This means that those with dementia may eventually have to move into a nursing home. Unfortunately, dementia patients are also at a greater risk of nursing home neglect and abuse. This leads to an even more decreased quality of life and can result in bed sores, broken bones, and even death.

#4: Chronic Pain

Chronic aches and pain become an issue as we age because our muscles, joints, and bones begin to weaken around age 30. This can cause minor issues like stiffness and soreness, but sometimes this chronic pain can be a sign of a more serious chronic illness.

One of the most common age-related diseases that brings chronic pain is osteoporosis. About 50% of women over 50 and 25% of men over 50 develop porous, brittle bones— also known as osteoporosis. This can result in poor posture, limited mobility, and even broken bones if a fall occurs.

Although age-related conditions are inevitable, they can be prevented, or at least have their effects lessened or be more easily managed. First and foremost, eating a healthy diet can prevent many of these problems— including wrinkles. More research has to be done to conclude whether or not diet can help prevent dementia, but it is known that a healthy diet can help lower blood pressure, and a diet high in vitamin D and calcium can help prevent osteoporosis.

Exercise is something else that can help prevent and/or lessen the effects of both hypertension and osteoporosis— and possibly even dementia. Smoking cigarettes is also known to cause wrinkles and hypertension, and it can also make dementia and osteoporosis worse. Even if you have a family history of certain diseases, it doesn’t always mean that you will develop these diseases. However, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and abstaining from smoking will give you a better chance of avoiding these diseases.