Physiology and Pathology both maturing at an early age.

Recent reports in the popular press show that humanity is maturing faster and also being attacked by diseases earlier. Is this because of the fast lives we are leading or due to the more stress piled on by accelerated pace of development in the modern world?

It seems that puberty is coming early in young men and women. Researchers have said that this is due to the better nutrition afforded by today's generation. This can lead to more stress as the teens have to learn more than their parents in this age of information overload. Hormones can cause more havoc at an early immature age when teens are still dependent on their parents. This can be one of the reasons behind teen pregnancies in the developed world.

Heart attacks are striking at an earlier age also. Young professionals battling with increased competition in the marketplace are faced with increased tension and stress laden lives. A large shift from the rural to the urban areas has been one of the reasons for this. This has lead to vast areas of rural Europe and America being underpopulated and at risk of being taken over by immigrants who later on due to strife with the native population cause inter-racial tensions.

Diabetes Mellitus also is known to strike earlier due to combination of an urban lifestyle and a 'fast diet' rather than a 'fasting diet'.

Now the latest is Parkinson's Disease which is appearing early due to stress, bad diet and lack of sleep. It has now been labelled as Young Onset Parkinson's. It affects 4-6 million worldwide and 360 people per 100,000 in India.

As is well known the birth rate has been decreasing in the developed countries in spite of the governments offering incentives to couples.

A combination of these factors means that the lifespan is reducing and with violence also increasing a natural reduction in the population seems to be in the offing.