Week 1

Question 1

Why is healthy aging an important topic?

Answer 1

It is not just about physical health, it is about your environment and the people around you

Question 2

The baby boom generation
- When?
- Importance?

Answer 2

1946-1964
Changed the social structure by taking up jobs, social needs and health care

Question 3

What effect does having more seniors than children have on our world?

Answer 3

1. Changes the workforce - Less individuals going into jobs, more retiring
2. More demand in health care

Question 4

why is Newfoundland and Labrador the highest senior population?

Answer 4

1. fertility trends
2. migration (less people of working age)
3. life expectancy

Question 5

life span predictions

Answer 5

1. decreased infant mortality rate
2. Advances in public health
3. Plateau of life expectancy
4. Adding “life to years” instead of “years to life”

Question 6

does living longer mean living better?

Answer 6

NO

Question 6

contraindications associated with living longer

Answer 6

1. decreased quality of life
2. decreased physical, cognitive, mental and social health
3. increase in common morbidities and comorbidities

Question 7

aging and quality of life statistic

Answer 7

massive improvements in global life expectancy BUT proportion of life spent in poor or moderate health has not changed

Question 8

what population wants to live longer?

Answer 8

MEN

Question 9

what is the desire to live longer associated with?

Answer 9

1. positive psychological well-being
2. increased happiness, life satisfaction and purpose in life
3. decreased risk of all-cause mortality (mediated by lifestyle behaviours)
4. decreased mortality from cancer or suicide (mediated by lifestyle behaviours)

Question 10

types of aging

Answer 10

1. chronological age
2. biological age
3. psychological age
4. functional age
5. social psychological/ subjective age
6. social age

Question 11

chronological age

Answer 11

the number of years a person has lived

Question 12

biological age

Answer 12

description of an individuals development based on molecular or cellular events
(can change based on medial conditions)

Question 13

psychological age

Answer 13

description of one’s own experiences using nonphysical features such as emotions, experience and logic
*how you think and view the world

Question 14

social psychological/subjective age

Answer 14

subjective age based on how old the individual feels

Question 15

social age

Answer 15

the social roles that an individual had placed on them by society that determines their age
ex retired = older adult

Question 16

functional age

Answer 16

a combination of chronological, biological and psychological age

Question 17

types of functional aging

Answer 17

1st age= childhood
2nd age= working and parenting
3rd age= “young old” btwn age 65-84
4th age= above 85
*people sometimes skip 2nd age - also changes depending on biological and psych health

Question 18

definition of healthy aging (WHO)

Answer 18

a continuous process of optimizing opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout the life course

Question 19

healthy aging characteristics

Answer 19

ability to…
1. meet basic needs
2. learn, grow, make decisions
3. be mobile
4. build and maintain relationship
5. contribute to society

Question 20

biopsychosocial (BPS) model

Answer 20

contribution of biological, psychological and social health on physical and mental health

Question 21

history of SA - Fries

Answer 21

1980
compression of morbidity: typically have more illness when you’re older

Question 22

Rowe and Kahn - 3 main points to successfully age

Answer 22

1. avoiding disease and disability
2. high cognitive and physical function
3. engagement with life

Question 23

MacArthur Foundation Study on Successful Aging

Answer 23

longitudinal study (1984-1993)
- how people define and perceive healthy aging over time
- believed interdisciplinary cooperation was most important for healthy aging

Question 24

history of SA - strawbridge

Answer 24

2002
believed we need to include the effect of chronic conditions and functional difficulties with successful aging

Question 25

history of SA - Reichstadt

Answer 25

2010
people who perceive aging as positive, are more likely to age successfully
(wisdom is a large contributor to SA)

Question 26

2 categories of the aging theory

Answer 26

1. stochastic theories of aging
2. programmed theories

Question 27

stochastic theories of aging

Answer 27

aging occurs randomly and persistently through time via random error and damage to cells/organs
*most prevalent theory is FREE RADICAL THEORY

Question 28

free radical theory of aging

Answer 28

• metabolic reactions occurring continuously in the body producing unstable molecules called free radicals
• these cause oxidation which damage cells and genetic material resulting in aging
  ex. age spots

Question 29

what “fights” free radicals

Answer 29

anti-oxidant vitamins
- “fight aging/ prevent reaction of free radicals”

Question 30

non-stochastic theories of aging

Answer 30

1. programmed theories
2. neuroendocrine-immunological theory

Question 31

programmed theories

Answer 31

1. aging is pre-determined through programmed cell changes or changes in neuroendocrine or immunological systems
2. defined by idea that all humans have a biological clock (pre-determined death)

Question 32

neuroendocrine-immunological theory

Answer 32

tied to both programmed and free radical theory
- immunity theory of aging (related to immune system)
*“by targeting IS we can prevent aging”