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Explore the various definitions of aging including chronological, biological, psychological, and social aspects. Delve into the biological theories of aging such as cellular, genetic, and control theories. Discover the concept of successful aging, the benefits of physical activity, and societal impacts. Gain insights into the complex process of aging and how physical activity plays a crucial role in successful aging.
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Understanding Human Aging Chapter 1
Outline • Definition of aging • Biological theories of aging • Concept of successful aging • Physical activity and successful aging
Definitions of age and the aging process • Chronological age • Biological age • Psychological age • Social age
Chronological age • Length of time or passage of calendar time • Human aging—important to consider a broader perspective
Biological age • Age-related changes in biological or physiological processes • Biological age assessment
Psychological age • Age-related changes in mental or cognitive functioning • assessment of psychological aging
Social age • Social roles and expectations • Assessment
Biological theories of aging • Large number of theories have been proposed • Increasingly likely that aging is not caused by a single mechanism
Biological theories of aging (cont.) • Cellular theories of aging • Genetic theories of aging • Control theories of aging
Cellular theories of aging • Degenerative changes that occur at the microscopic level of analysis • free-radical oxidation • cross-links
Genetic theories of aging • Age-related changes can be attributed to genetic mechanisms • “Hayflick limit” • Telomere
Control theories of aging • Function of specific physiologic systems known to be vital for controlling our bodies’ ability to respond to stressors • T-cell activity • Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) • Immune system
Successful aging • The rate and the extent of functional decline: differences between individuals • Physical activity • Benefits of physical activity for the individual persons • Societal benefits of promoting physically active lifestyles among older person
Key Points • Defining aging requires a broad perspective of chronological, biological, psychological, and social aspects. • Aging is a complex process in which multiple biological mechanisms are acting at the molecular, cellular, and system levels. It makes difficult to identify a single unified theory of biological aging. • Large scientific evidence links physical activity participation to successful aging.