When we think of age in relation to bulging or herniated disc, most seem to think that the older a person is, the more susceptible they are to suffering from a herniated disc. However, recent research claims that those who are middle-aged have a much higher risk of developing a herniated disc than senior citizens. Due to the fact that it takes a while for the spinal disc to naturally wear down, it doesn’t seem to affect anyone during their adolescent years, typically just those in their 30s, 40s and 50s. This is believed to be a fact because after the age of 50 the water content in the vertebrae is far less than what it is for an individual in their 30s. Therefore, the less fluid there is, the less nucleus material there is to leak through the outer cracks and layers of the spinal disc. Some research states that the wear down of the spine’s anatomy begins somewhere around the second or third decade of one’s life. Although this fact is hard to blame on age, alone. The things we do throughout our lives, like work, activities, and hobbies, have an impact as well. Many studies reveal that by the time a person is 35, signs of wear or degeneration have typically begun to show. Therefore it is not the process of aging, alone, that has a negative effect on the spine, but it is also due to a lifetime of intense, repetitive activities. Also, let’s not forget to address the accidents that can happen to the vertebrae and spinal discs, such as: falls, car wrecks, or other type of traumatic occurrence that you were not planning for. When age is combined with other external factors, it can be considered as a factor in the degeneration of the vertebrae and spinal discs, otherwise, age is not considered a determining factor for the development of bulging or ruptured disc.