theories on aging

8/22/2019 Theories on Aging

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/theories-on-aging 1/32

Theories on

AgingErick Sioco Inserto, RN



T h e o

r i e s

Biologic

concerned with answering basic

questions regarding physiologicprocesses that occur in all living

organisms over time

(Hayflick,1996)

Sociologic

Focused on the roles and

relationships within whichindividuals engage later in life

(Hogstel, 1995)



T h e o

r i e s

Psychologic

Influenced by both biology and

sociology; address how aperson responds to the tasks of

his or her age

Moral/Spiritual

Examine how an individual seeks

to explain and validate his or

her own existence (Edelmanand Mandle, 2003)



BIOLOGIC THEORIESOF AGING



F o c u

s

Focus of biologic theories

1. Deleterious effects leading to

decreasing function of theorganism

2. Gradually occurring age

related changes that are

progressive over time

3. Intrinsic changes that can

affect all members of the

species because of chronologic age



Two Main Divisions

– Stochastic

• Explain aging as events that occur randomly and accumulate over

time

– Error Theory

– Free radical Theory – Cross linkage Theory

– Wear and Tear Theory

– Non stochastic• View aging as certain

predetermined, timed-phenomena

– Programmed theory

– Immunity Theory



STOCHASTICTHEORIES


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/theories-on-aging 8/32Error theory

• Error catastrophe theory

• Proposed by Orgel in 1963

• Based on the idea that errors

can occur in the transcription

of the synthesis that do not

function at the optimum level.The organism’s aging and

death are based on these

events ( Sonneborne,1979)• No current supporting

research



Free radical theory

• Free radicals are by products

of metabolism. When by

products accumulate, theydamage the cell membrane

which decreases its efficiency.

The body producesantioxidants that scavenge the

free radicals

• Administration of antioxidantspostpones the appearance of

cardiovascular dse and

cancer



Cross linkages theory

• With age, some proteins in the

body become cross linked. This

does not allow fro normalmetabolic activity and waste

products accumulate in the cells

as the end result the tissues does

not function at maximum efficiency


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/theories-on-aging 11/32Wear and Tear Theory

• The wear and tear theory

equates humans with

machines. It hypothesizesthat aging is a result of use



NON STOCHASTIC

THEORIES



Programmed Theory

• Normal cells divide in a limited

number of times; therefore life

expectancy was programmed

(Hayflick, 1996)



Immunity Theory

• Changes occur in the immune

system, specifically in the T-

lymphocytes, as a result of aging.

These changes leave the

individual more vulnerable to

disease (Phipps et.al, 2003)



EMERGING THEORIES



Neuroendcorine Control

• Examines the interrelated role of

the neurologic and endocrine

system over the lifespan of theindividual .

• Scientists are studying the roles

of the hypothalamus and thehormones

(dehydropiandrosterone) DHEA

and melatonin in the agingprocesss



Metabolic Theory

• A.k.a caloric restriction

• Proposes that allorganisms have a finite

metabolic lifetime and

organisms with a higher metabolic rate have

shorter lifespan



DNA related research

• Genes play a certain role in the

aging process

• Discovery of telomeres located atthe end of the chromosomes,

which may function as the cell’s

biologic clocks



SOCIOLOGICTHEORIES OF AGING



Disengagement Theory

• As individuals age, they withdraw

from society and society supports

this withdrawal

• Cumming and Henry, 1961



Activity/developmental

task theory

• Individuals need to

remain active to age

successfully. Activity is

necessary to maintain

life satisfaction andpositive self concept



Continuity Theory

• Individuals will respond to

aging in the same way

they have responded toprevious life events. The

same habits, preferences,

commitments, and other are maintained in older

adulthood



Age stratification theory

• Society consists of groups or

cohorts that age collectively. The

people and the roles in these

cohorts change and influence

each other, so does society at

large. Therefore a high degree of

interdependence exists betweenolder adults and society



Personal Environment fit

Theory

• Each individual has personal

competencies in dealing with the

environment. These competencies

may change with aging, thus

affecting the older person’s ability

to interrelate with the environment



PSYCHOLOGIC

THEORIES OF AGING



Maslows heirerchy of

needs

• Human motivation is

viewed as a hierarchy of

needs that are critical tothe growth and

development of all people.

Individuals are viewed asactive participants in life,

striving for self

actualization



Self actualization

Self Esteem

Love andBelonging

needs

Safety and security

Physical and psychological

Physiologic

Oxygen, Fluids,nutrition Body temp.Elimination,shelter,Sex



Jung’s theory of

individualism

• Development is viewed as

occurring throughout

adulthood, with self realizationas the goal of personality

development . As an

individual ages he or she iscapable of transforming into a

spiritual being



Erickson’s Eight Stages of

Life

• All people experience eight

psychosocial stages during the

course of a lifetime. Each stage

represents a crisis, where the goal

is to integrate physical maturation

and psychosocial demand. At

each stage the person has theopportunity to resolve the crisis.

Successful mastery prepares the

individual for continued

development


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/theories-on-aging 30/32Peck’s Expansion Theory

• Seven tasks are identified as

occurring during Erickson's final

two stages

• The final three tasks identified for

old age are:

– Ego differentiation vs. work role

preoccupation – Body transcendence vs body

preoocupation

– Ego trancscendence vs ego

preoccupation



Selective Optimization

with Comnpoensation

• Physical capacity diminishes with

age. An individual who ages

successfully compensates for

these deficits through selection,

optimization, and compensation



Template Provided By

www.animationfactory.com

500,000 Downloadable PowerPointTemplates, Animated Clip Art, Backgrounds

and Videos

http://www.animationfactory.com/



theories on aging

Documents