A another QUORA gem :[ " At what age do people start feeling "old " and what causes it ? ]

Former Senior Secondary Maths, Science Teacher - retiredUpdated Oct 25 [At what age do people start feeling tired and “old,” and what causes it? I’m 76. For the past two years I have felt “old”.] [It wasn’t because of physical deterioration. It wasn’t because of mental deterioration. It was because of side effects of chemotherapy for stage 4 (terminal) prostate cancer. How have I become old? Let me count the ways (apologies to Elizabeth Barret Browning - my bad for not recalling correctly). Physical fatigue; lack of stamina; sore feet; fluid retention; muscle cramps; weight gain despite actively trying to lose it; lack of blood sugar level control; inability to concentrate; forgetfulness; insomnia; consistent tiredness; walking speed diminishing from 6 km/h to under 3; inability to walk more than 300 m without resting; arthritis in my hands; hiatus hernia; loss of desire to read and write (I have 19 novels in the (now clogged) pipeline). I think that sums it up! [at the end of September 2026] EDIT: 22/10/26. I have spent the last three weeks “sister-sitting”. My sister had a similar back operation to the one I had three years ago. She did not fare well and had to be supervised as she initially fell and had to go back to hospital. While there, my limitations did not seem so great, but there were still things I couldn’t do. I can’t “push through the pain barrier” when walking or working, as when I try, I pay for it for the next day or two, unable to do very much. Yet I can drive distances which (younger) others I know are unable to. However, feeling is coming back to my feet and my balance is getting better. Hopefully my body will adapt to my “new normal” and I will be able to do more things. ]