Why Do We Get Colder As We Age?

The fact that the elderly are more sensitive to cold than others is not a myth but a reality. Their chilliness can be explained by both physiological and behavioral causes. If you are wondering why people get colder as they age and what to do about it, follow our advice to better resist the cold!

What are the physiological causes of chilliness?

We are not all equal when it comes to the cold, and age is one of the main factors influencing an individual's chilliness. Indeed, with advancing age, certain physiological parameters change, starting with body temperature.

This is between 36 and 36.6°C in seniors, but between 36.6 and 37.5°C in a middle-aged adult.

If we become more chilly as we age, it is also because :

- the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates body temperature) becomes less efficient with age and is less able to adapt to temperature changes

- Blood vessels tend to shrink with age and do not irrigate the extremities as well. This explains why older people often have cold hands and feet.

- Aging is often accompanied by a loss of muscle. Muscle and fat form a protective layer that shields our internal organs from the cold.

- with age, fat tissue loses certain cells (called group 2 innate lymphoid cells) that restore body heat when it is cold.

All of these physiological factors may explain why older people are more sensitive to cold. Furthermore, in seniors, the sensation of cold is further aggravated by behavioral causes.

What are the behavioral causes of cold feet?

As people age, some lose their appetite and may suffer from undernutrition (a scourge that affects between 4% and 10% of people over 70 living at home). Yet, insufficient nutrition leads to weight loss and melt of body fat, resulting in greater sensitivity to cold.

If we are more cold as we age, it is also because we become less active with age. Moving less aggravates chilliness because physical activity is a good way to warm up.

Finally, it is important to know that certain diseases such as Raynaud's disease and certain medications aggravate chilliness.

Some treatments such as neuroleptics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants affect the perception of cold and the regulation of body temperature. This is also the case with some sleeping pills and some blood pressure medications.

How to better resist the cold?

In the elderly, the sensation of cold increases blood pressure, fatigue and the risk of heart attack. Because it numbs the limbs and increases rheumatic pain, the cold also increases the risk of falling among seniors.

So, even though we are naturally more chilly as we age as we explained above, it is important to adopt certain good habits to better resist the cold.

Among the good reflexes to adopt to be less cold, remember that you must:

- eat and drink enough, especially proteins and warm foods such as soups and hot drinks like herbal teas and hot chocolate

- stay moving by making sure to get up regularly to walk. It is even recommended to go outside for a walk, as long as you are well covered.

- cover up well especially around the feet, hands and neck.

- equip your bed with a good duvet and warm it if necessary with a hot water bottle to promote relaxation and sleep.