Theories on Ageing

Question 1

what is subjective ageing (vs chronological age)

Answer 1

-subjective age is more of a phenomenological exeperience of age (personal experiences, how you feel, activity lvl etc)

Question 2

What are the diff categories of old age

Answer 2

young-old (65-74)
old old (75-80)
oldest old (80/85 and older)

Question 3

What is considered successful ageing

Answer 3

physical, psychological and social functioning in old age w/o major diseases
–no accelerated drops as you approach physical frailty and sarcopenia

Question 4

what is accelerated ageing

Answer 4

an accelerated drop into disability/loss of independence

Question 5

what are the 4 primary domains that describes successful ageing

Answer 5

• avoidence of disease and disability
• a high level of cognitive, mental, physical funtion
• being actively engaged in life
• being psychologically well adapted

Question 6

what are the biomedical aspects of successful ageing

Answer 6

health and ADL
Physical function
cognitive function

Question 7

What are the psychosocial factors of successful ageing

Answer 7

• psychologically well adaped

- avitely engaged in life (in comuninity, social aspects, having a role/job etc)

Question 8

normal aspects of ageing that you will experience in mobility, sense organs, cog function, memory, immune, sleep, nut

Answer 8

Mob (loss of strength, slower, loss of reflexes/balance)
Sense (sight and hearing)
Cog (reduction of conc and learning ability)
Memory (occasional forgetfulness, ability to pick words)
Immune (slower response)
Sleep (lighter)
Nut (loss of appetite, taste for food )

Question 9

What are the two major theories of ageing

Answer 9

Programmed theories + damage/error theories

Question 10

What is the programed theory of aging

Answer 10

• Ageing follows a timeline

- regulated by changes in gene expression impacting body systems responsible for maintenance, repair, defence

Question 11

what is the damage/error theory of ageing

Answer 11

• Environmental effects to living organisms that induce damage
• damage is accumulated over a lifetime

Question 12

what are the subcategories of programmed theory of ageing

Answer 12

• Programed longevity
• endocrine theory
• immunological theory
• telomere theory

Question 13

what is programed logenvity

Answer 13

-the result of sequential on/off of certain genes
-old age is defined as time when the age associated deficits are manifested phsyically
(when genes are switched off you notice the age associated deficits)

Question 14

What is endocrine theory

Answer 14

Where the biological clock acts thru hormones to control the pace of ageing

Question 15

What is immunological theory

Answer 15

The immune system is programmed to decline over time, leading to an increased vulnerability to inf and disease

Question 16

What is telomere theory

Answer 16

Telomeres will shorten with successive cell divisions, at a critical length the cell will stop dividing leading to death of that cell and eventual death of the organism

Question 17

What are the subcategories of damage/error theories

Answer 17

Wear + tear theory
Rate of living theory
Cross linking theory
Free radical theory

Question 18

What is the wear and tear theory

Answer 18

where vital parts in our cells and tissues wear out, resulting in ageing

Question 19

what is rate of living theory

Answer 19

where the greater an organisms rate of oxygen metabolism, the shorter its lifespan will be
-hypothessized that your damage accumulation, is in direct relation to your rate of oxygen metabolism

Question 20

What is the cross linking theory

Answer 20

Where there is an accumulation of cross linked proteins which damages cells and tissues, slows down the bodily processes

Question 21

what is the free radical theory and what other theory is it similar to

Answer 21

where superoxide and other free radicals cause damage to the components of the cell
(similar to the rate of living theory)

Question 22

What are the two psychosocial theories of aging

Answer 22

Disengagement thory

Activity theory

Question 23

what is disengagement throy

Answer 23

Process where many of the relationships are severed and remaining are altered in quality

• older people have become less involved w life
• as people age they experience greater distance from society

Question 24

what is activity theory of aging

Answer 24

A persons self concept is related to the roles held by that person

• professional roles, familial roles etc
• if an individual doesn’t have a role they may feel a lack of direction

Question 25

What are ADLs vs IADLS

Answer 25

ADLs- self care activities that a person would perform daily

IADL- more complicated, activities needed to live indepenedently

Question 26

what percentage of people over 75 have to limit activities due to impairment

Answer 26

75%

Question 27

what percentage of people over 85 need help w adls

Answer 27

50%

Question 28

What are examples of IADLs

Answer 28

• administering oven meds
• grocery shopping
• preparing meals
• using telephone
• driving
• handleing finances

Question 29

what are common factors in people who age in regard to nutritional status

Answer 29

healthy older people are less hungry, consume smaller meals, eat more slowly and become satiated rapidly

(daily intake in food decreases by up to 30% bw 20-80)

Question 30

what is the loss of LBM per decade after 50

Answer 30

loss of 3kg of LBM

Question 31

what is cachexia and sarcopenia

Answer 31

-involuntary loss of fat free mass (seen in chronic disease)

Sarcopenia- decline in skeletal mass during ageing, reduced physical activity has crucial role, causing mm loss

Question 32

effect of aging on suprachiasmic nucleus

Answer 32

deterioration in the function of the nucleus will disrupt the circadian rythm
-also insufficient exposure to sunlight and changes in sunlight can impact secretion of hormones

Question 33

sleep sdifferences in older vs younger

Answer 33

• circadian rhythm shifts forward (phase advance)
• 25% take naps compared to 8% younger
• increased restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea etc