Ageing

Question 1

What is the maximum human life?

Answer 1

90-122 years (despite disease management).

Question 2

What age group is most vulnerable to disease?

Answer 2

Old people.

Question 3

Whats the difference between ageing and disease?

Answer 3

1). Ageing

• normal.
• universal.
• inevitable.
• irreversible.

2). Disease

• not normal.
• not universal.
• not inevitable.
• often reversible.

Question 4

What are the 4 theories of ageing?

Answer 4

1) . Evolutionary.
2) . Cellular.
3) . Molecular.
4) . System.

Question 5

What theory explains the evolutionary significance of ageing?

Answer 5

Disposable Soma Theory.

Question 6

What is the evolutionary theory?

Answer 6

• Distinction between maintenance of the body (soma) and maintenance of the reproduction system.
• Animals of high risk dont maintain their soma (body), but invest time in reproduction, therefore, less likely to be protected.

Question 7

What are some examples of the evolutionary theory?

Answer 7

1). Tortoise

• low risk.
• long-lived.
• reproduce more slowly.
• effective maintenance system.

2). Rat

• high risk.
• short-lived.
• reproduce quickly.
• ineffective maintenance systems.

Question 8

What is the cellular theory?

Answer 8

• Ageing is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Results to reduced ATP production and generation of oxygen species.
• Ageing is a result of the damage from free radicals (created from electron loss).

Question 9

What are free radicals?

Answer 9

• Oxygen electrons become lost and free radicals arise, causing ageing.

Question 10

What environmental factors cause free radicals?

Answer 10

• Pollution.
• Radiation.
• Cigarette smoke.

Question 11

What is a result of free radicals?

Answer 11

• DNA damage (mitochondria damage).
• Lipid and protein damage.
• Damage accumulates over time (wear and tear theory).
• Harder for body to maintain steady state (homeostasis).

Question 12

What is oxidative stress?

Answer 12

An imbalance of the production of free radicals and antioxidants.

• Can cause intercelluar damage, physiological damage and physiological decline.

Question 13

What is the role of an antioxidant?

Answer 13

To ‘mop up’ free radical –> present in fruit and veg.

Question 14

What is a telomere?

Answer 14

The red bit at the end of a chromosome.

Question 15

What is the role of telomeres?

Answer 15

To protect the chromosome from damage (protection from ageing).

Question 16

What is the process of telomere shortening?

Answer 16

• The protective effect is lost.

- Can lead to apoptotic cell death.

Question 17

What causes telomere shortening?

Answer 17

Exposure to oxygen free radicals.

• Oxygen free radicals can modulate the reduction of telomeres.

Question 18

What is the molecular theory?

Answer 18

• Mutation in an inssulin pathway gene increases lifespan.

- Insulin pathway is correspondence with metabolic requirements.

Question 19

Which gene involved in insulin has been found more prevalent in women than men?

Answer 19

FOXO3a.

• More prevalent in women aged over 92 compared with women aged 80/or less.

Question 20

What is the effect of the FOXO3a gene?

Answer 20

May have a less risk of developing diabetes and cancer.

Question 21

What are the 2 molecular theories?

Answer 21

1) . Gene mutations and ageing theory.

2) . Calorie restriction theory.

Question 22

What is the molecular: calorie restriction theory?

Answer 22

• Calorie restriction slow ageing and increase life span.

- Eating too much increases ageing.

Question 23

What is the effects of calorie restriction?

Answer 23

• Lower insulin levels.
• Lower triglyceride levels.
• Less free-radical damage.

Question 24

What is the homeostatic reserve mechanisms?

Answer 24

Ageing results in loss of physiological reserve.

Question 25

What is the process of homeostatic reserve mechanism also known as?

Answer 25

Homeostenosis

• leads to a higher vulnerability to disease seen with ageing.

Question 26

What is homeostenosis?

Answer 26

• Occurs when an individual is in a ‘stressed’ state, in which they move away from homeostasis.
• This is a process of ageing.
• The person goes past the limit in which homeostasis can be restored.