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Biological Changes with Progressive and Successful Aging
Level of Importance
How important is the impact of biological age on the experience of the late adult phase of the life course?
Three important theories of Biological Aging:
Genetic Theory- We are born with a unique genetic code, a predetermined tendency to certain types of physical and mental functioning, and that genetic inheritance has a great deal to say about how quickly we age and how long we live.
Molecular/cellular Theory- The biological aging is caused by this process. This theory has theories within itself such as free radical theory, waste product accumulation theory, and autoimmune theory.
o Free radicals are reactive oxygen species also known as (ROS) which create oxidation process in cells. ROS are unstable and cause damage when they are attaching to other molecules. o Waste product accumulation proposes that as we age waste products build up in the body’s cells and interfere with bodily functioning and sometimes lead to cell death. o Autoimmune proposes loss of the ability to recognize foreign bacteria, viruses, and other invaders. Which leads to the body beginning to attack some of its own healthy cells producing antibodies against itself.
System level Theory- proposes that aging is caused by processes operating across biological systems
This system includes the homeostasis approach involving organisms maintaining good communication among the various organ systems. With age a number of systems may show slower responses and eventually over time begin to exaggerate responses and take longer to return to baseline.
Also the “wear and tear” theory which simply proposes that organs and joints wear out has been replaced with stress theory proposes the prolonged exposure to both physiological and psychosocial stress hastens aging in many organ systems and results in toxic effects of stress related hormones.
Telomere level- play a central role in cell fate and aging by adjusting the cellular response to stress and growth stimulation on the basis of previous cell divisions and DNA damage.
In somatic cells, telomere length is very heterogeneous but typically declines with age, posing a barrier to tumor growth but also contributing to loss of cells with age.
• The loss of telomere function in such cells results in chromosome fusions, broken chromosomes, break-fusion bridge cycles, translocations, and aneuploidy.
Health and Longevity
“Illness and death can be postponed through lifestyle changes”
Ways to promote health in old age include:
Improving dietary habits
Increasing activity levels and physical exercise
Stopping smoking and obtaining regular health screenings
Basic procedures such as blood sampling, blood pressure measurement, cancer screening, glaucoma screening.
An important finding has been the roles of self-efficacy sense of mastery, positive attitude, and social supports in improving the quality of life and delaying functional limitation and disability.
Change in Physiology
“All systems of the body appear to be affected during the aging process.”
Nervous System- in the brain the neurons and synapses are the transmitters of information throughout the nervous system. The number of neurons decreases throughout the life span which in result the brain mass begins to decrease slowly after the age 30.
Cardiovascular System- changes in several ways as we become older. The output= the amount of blood pumped per min decreases throughout adult life and the pulse begins to slow with age. Oxygen becomes less in muscular activities. Overall with advancing age it takes longer for blood pressure and heart rate to return to normal resting levels after a stressful event
Respiratory System- changes with age beginning at the age of 20 and as age increases the lung capacity decreases with throughout the lifespan
Skeletal System- this change occurs after the age 30, which the bones begin to decrease in bone mass and bone density. And this is why older people get shorter as they get older. The cartilage between the joints wears thin, arthritis, and inflammation of the joints begins to develop.
Muscular System- strength and endurance decline. Older people become fatigued more easily. Muscle contractions begin to slow down which contributes to deteriorating reflexes. However, this can be strengthened through weight training and changes in diet and lifestyle.
Sensory System- contributes to the sense of balance which leads to an increase in accidental falls and bone fractures. Vision begins to decrease having older people to seek more light to reach the retina in order to see. Decrease in hearing due changes in the spiral organ of the ear and associated nerve cell.
Integumentary System- includes skin, hair, and nails. With age the epidermis becomes thinner and pigment cells grow and cluster, creating age spots on the skin. Also, the sweat and oil glands decrease causing the skin to be dry and more vulnerable to injury. The skin of an older person often feels cool because the blood flow to the skin is reduced.
Progressive strength training for older adults
1. The decline of muscle strength is associated with physical disability in late adulthood
2. Individuals lose 30% percent of their muscle strength between the ages 50 and 70 years.
3. Progressive resistance strength training has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention to increase muscle strength.
Points of Emphasis
Restore muscle strength- In PRT people exercise muscles against certain resistance force that is gradually increased over the course of training to become stronger.
Encouraging results-Results that PRT improves muscle strength and muscle mass in older adults.
Muscle strength is increased- Even with low-intensity exercise, at the frequency of once a week—older adults can perform exercise.
The common training schedule- Mean age of trial participant sample ranged from 65 to 85 years. Schedule is laid out two to three times a week, and continued for 6 weeks or longer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CACMfZ8tgao- 87 Year-old Weightlifter!
Active Aging in Late Adulthood
"Aging is a social process that involves the
interplay between human development
and the complementary dynamic of structural change.”
Adequate muscle strength- Strength is essential to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Muscle strength is the amount of force generated by a specific muscle.
Positive Factors
“Active aging is concerned with facilitating the rights of older people to remain healthy.”
Reducing the costs of health and social care
Remain in employment longer reducing pension costs
Participating in community and political life
Extra Info!
• Active aging is a social process that involves the interplay between human development and the complementary dynamic of structural change.
• The processes of defining and measuring successful aging have been problematic as they have been concerned with how older individuals should age, rather than with how people come to view themselves as aging successfully.
• For instance, even if older adults experience ill health or disability, they may not identify themselves as aging unsuccessfully and may still engage in a variety of activities.
• Various improvements in older people’s lives are contingent upon societal interventions and measures including lifelong education, anti-age discrimination policies, leisure, and opportunities to volunteer
• The active aging strategy outlined here operates simultaneously at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels reflecting the need for a partnership between citizen and society.
Successful Aging
The perception of “successful aging” are important for understanding multifaceted construct and developing ways to assist older adults to age well.
Successful aging to include three main components: low probability of disease and disease-related disability, high cognitive and physical functional capacity, and active engagement with life.
Qualitative interviews:
· “The importance of seeking intellectual stimulation and continuously challenging oneself (i.e., crossword puzzles) was also mentioned, particularly in reference to maintaining one's mental health and "keeping the mind sharp."
"Every social interaction that I have I feel is always a learning (process). There are so many people who have had
experiences that I can glean from ... I can get their knowledge and I can incorporate it into myself and that is
growing.”
"You cannot always do the things you did do, but there are other things you can do and look for them . . ."
~Two primary themes identified as key to Successful Aging~
Self-Acceptance/Self Contentment- Basic subthemes of realistic self-appraisal, a review of one's life, and focusing on the present.
Engagement with life/Self-Growth- Basic subthemes of novel pursuits, giving to others, social interactions, and positive attitude.
~These key points support the concept of wisdom as a major contributor to successful aging. Interventions to enhance successful aging may include those that promote productive and social engagement along with effective coping strategies.~
A list of factors that contribute to successful aging experiences:
Factors:
1. Seeking and maintaining positive and fulfilling relationships with others- Relationships that help us to heal and grow usually require the ability to practice gratitude, forgiveness, and intimacy.
2. Practicing generativity- Being interested and concerned about the lives of others and being able to share and give of oneself.
3. Having a sense of humor- The capacity to laugh and play well into later life.
4. Learning to make new friends-Younger friends as we lose older ones was found to be more important to positive aging than retirement income.
5. Practicing intellectual curiosity- Having the desire to learn new things and being open to new ideas and perspectives.
6. Displaying graceful acceptance- One’s limitations sometimes referred to as\ the “indignities of old age” as well as accepting the assistance of others.
7. Reflecting-Reflecting on and appreciating the past but living in the present
8. Focusing on good things-The good people who happen to us at any age contribute to an enjoyable old age as opposed to focusing only on the bad things that happen to us.
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