These flat brown-black spots are unrelated to liver function, though – the increased pigmentation may be brought on by ageing, exposure to the sun or other forms of ultraviolet light, or other unknown causes.

Liver spots are common after age 40. They occur on the backs of the hands, on the forearms, shoulders, face and forehead. They are harmless and painless, but perhaps one more thing you didn't want to see in the mirror.

If you are not wearing dentures yet and want to avoid them as long as possible, take care of your teeth now. Flossing may be as important as brushing, say dentists.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a joint disease where there is progressive degeneration of the cartilage lining the bones.

The surface layer of the cartilage gradually wears away, and the bones grind against one another like sandpaper, causing pain, swelling, loss of motion – and a mini symphony of creaks every time you move.

Over time, bone spurs may grow on the joints. Bits of bone and cartilage may also come off and float inside the joint space, causing more pain and damage.

As many as 15% to 35% of those over 60 have it, with women twice as likely as men to get it – these are the folks mentally mapping out every loo in a 100-metre radius.

For most, the telltale sign is needing to hold reading material at arm's length – in that arms-stretched, neck-craned pose which looks like a tai chi move (let's call it “Stork Needs Glasses”).

A natural part of ageing that usually affects those 40 and over, it can be diagnosed with a basic eye exam, and corrected with non-prescription reading glasses, prescription eye glasses or contact lenses. Surgery may also be an option.

As a person ages, some bits go south but others go east and west. The weight and waistline may expand because of changes to body fat and metabolism.

These can be brought on by many factors, including higher levels of lipids (fats such as cholesterol) and changes to the way the body processes glucose or sugar.

A growing waistline is one indicator of the risk of heart disease, so don't forget to watch that as well as your diet and exercise, and to go for regular medical checks.

Tests can determine the extent of loss – however, there is no known cure when it is age-related. Treatment is focused on functional improvement, such as with hearing aids, which amplify sounds.

Half to two-thirds of those aged 50 and older notice this change. If you are one of them, you may be glad to know small lapses are not usually a sign of a serious disease such as Alzheimer's, but result from normal age-related changes in the brain.

If you don't want to go down without a fight, however, some experts recommend memory-boosting exercises, foods and lifestyle changes, though there is no guarantee these will work.

Over time, they make less and less pigment until the hair has very little. White hair has no pigment, and grey hair has some, but not as much as black, brown or red hair.

The silver lining? Not all hairs respond in the same way or at the same time, so the greying process is usually gradual. But you can't stop it: some start greying in their 30s, others in their 60s. Your genes probably call the shots.

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