Jake T. Caballo BSN IV-B 1 .

Theories of Aging PSYCHOSOCIOLOGIC THEORIES

Psychologic aging is characterized primarily by behavioral changes. Sociologic changes refer to changes that relate to the environmental influences that contribute to and affect aging people. Each older person is an individual, and each life experience and each change in a person's environment has an effect on that person.

Psychosocial Perspectives on Aging

Aging is defined here as the transformation of the human organism after the age of physical maturity so that the probability of survival decreases & it is accompanied by regular transformations in appearance, behavior, experience & social roles. Psychosocial aging can be described as a result of the disuse of previously acquired skills, random wear & tear, a change in the ability to adapt due environmental variables, loss of internal & external resources, genetic influences over the life span. Social scientists agree that genetics (heredity) is a major factor in determining the length of human life, although environment plays an important role in modifying the expected life span. The bottom line of Psychosocial Theory: As people grow older, their behavior changes, their social interactions change, and the activities in which they engage change.

The four Psychosocial Theories we will discuss here are: Disengagement theory Activity theory Life-course theories Continuity theory

Disengagement Theory

Refers to an inevitable process in which many of the relationships between a person and other members of society are severed & those remaining are altered in quality. Withdrawal may be initiated by the aging person or by society, and may be partial or total. It was observed that older people are less involved with life than they were as younger adults. As people age they experience greater distance from society & they develop new types of relationships with society. In America there is evidence that society forces withdrawal on older people whether or not they want it. Some suggest that this theory does not consider the large number of older people who do not withdraw from society. This theory is recognized as the 1st formal theory that attempted to explain the process of growing older.

Jake T. Caballo BSN IV-B Activity Theory

Is another theory that describes the psychosocial aging process. Activity theory emphasizes the importance of ongoing social activity. This theory suggests that a person's self-concept is related to the roles held by that person i.e. retiring may not be so harmful if the person actively maintains other roles, such as familial roles, recreational roles, volunteer & community roles. To maintain a positive sense of self the person must substitute new roles for those that are lost because of age. And studies show that the type of activity does matter, just as it does with younger people.

The Activity Theory makes the following certain assumptions:

There is an abrupt beginning of old age. The process of aging leaves people alone & cut-off. People should be encouraged to remain active & develop own-age friends. Standards & expectations of middle age should be projected to older age. Aging persons should be encouraged to expand & be involved.

Life-Course Theories

One theory we are all very familiar with is Erikson's developmental stages, which here approaches maturity as a process. Within each stage the person faces a crisis or dilemma that the person must resolve to move forward to the next stage, or not resolve which results in incomplete development.

Hanighurst stated that for older people to progress they must meet the following tasks:

Adjust to declining health & physical strength. Adjust to retirement & reduced income. Adjust to the death of a spouse or family members. Adjust to living arrangements different from what they are accustomed. Adjust to pleasures of aging i.e. increased leisure & playing with grandchildren.

A more recent framework used in conducting research following these assumptions:

Aging occurs from birth to death. Aging involves biologic, psychologic & sociologic processes. Experiences during aging are shaped by historical factors.

Continuity Theory

States that older adults try to preserve & maintain internal & external structures by using strategies that maintain continuity. Meaning that older people may seek to use familiar strategies in familiar areas of life.

Jake T. Caballo BSN IV-B

In later life, adults tend to use continuity as an adaptive strategy to deal with changes that occur during normal aging. Continuity theory has excellent potential for explaining how people adapt to their own aging. Changes come about as a result of the aging person's reflecting upon past experience & setting goals for the future.

Biologic Theories Biologic theories classify aging as genetic (heredity) & nongenetic (wear & tear).

Genetic theories are the most promising in relation to finding answers about aging.

Genetic Theories Error & Fidelity Theory

How does this theory apply to aging? Normally, we constantly or faithfully produce cells throughout our bodies using our same correct DNA map (or proteins) to do so time & time again. What this theory is saying is that over time an error or mistake occurs in our DNA map (or proteins) and it begins to produce cells that are not correct it's like going from producing a high quality product to producing a lesser quality product. This deterioration results in aging and eventually over a lifetime, death.

Somatic Mutation Theory

This theory holds that Mutations are those inheritable changes that occur in the cellular DNA. If there is extensive damage to DNA and it is not repaired, then there will probably be an alteration in a genetic sequence. There has been some suggestion related to background radiation of various types.

Glycation Theory

Suggests that glucose acts a mediator of aging. Glycation is the nonenzymic reaction between glucose & tissue protein. Studies conclude that glycation may have profound cumulative effect during a person's life. The negative effects of this process on proteins may be a major contributor to age changes. The effects of this process may be similar to elevated glucose levels & shorter life spans of diabetics.

Theories of cellular aging Programmed Cellular Aging Theory

Suggests that aging may be a result of an impairment of the cell in translating necessary RNAs as a result of increased turnoffs of DNA. In other words, the transcription of these messages into functional proteins may be restricted in older people.

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Some segments of DNA become depleted with advancing age, or selected cellular structures seem to change with age so that DNA transcription is restricted.

Aging Pacemaker Theory

Suggests that one cell, or one type of tissue, interferes with cell proliferation, thereby initiating the process of senescence throughout the body. Some suggest the Thymus as the 'pacemaker' or 'biologic clock.'

Theories of the Organ System Autoimmune Theory

As the body ages the immune system is less able to deal with foreign organisms & increasingly make mistakes by identifying ones own tissues as foreign (thus attacking them). These altered abilities result in increased susceptibility to disease & to abnormalities that result form autoimmune responses.

Neuroendocrine Control Theory

The neurologic & endocrine systems are major controllers of body activity. During the human life span there is a 10% decrease in the weight of the brain due to both loss of cells & fluids in the cerebrum. It is suggested the age related changes in response to hormones may be the result of changes in the receptors for hormones rather than changes in the activity of the endocrine hormones themselves.

Nongenetic Theories Effects-of-Temperature Theory

This theory suggests that humans might live longer if their body temperatures were just 5 degrees lower than the usual 98.6 because there is a relationship between high metabolism (which increases temperature) and shorter-lived species. It is also suggest that if humans could attain the lower temperature they would live 20% longer.

Nutrient Deprivation Theory

Purposes that oxygen deprivation leads to senescence of deprived cells.

Lipofuscin Theory

Also referred to as the 'wear and tear' theory. Suggests that as people age they produce age spots that are an accumulation of 'biochemical debris' or waste products. It is believed that these waste products accumulate until they interfere with cellular functioning.

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/ns/southeasternnurse/TheoriesofAgingC3.html

Jake T. Caballo BSN IV-B

2.Reaction PSYCHOSOCIOLOGIC THEORIES Disengagement theory

-In this theory, disengagement is emphasized as the withdrawal of an individual from his usual activities of daily living, which may be influenced by oneself or by the people in the society.It is similar to adaptation towards role changes , and awareness of oneself Eg: A 60 yr old is convinced to retire on his job due to his familys concern about his health Activity theory

-In this theory it is simply stressed out the role changes of the aging individual after the transition from his old role to his new role Eg: An elderly woman decides to stay home and mingle with her grandchildren rather than continuing working at school. Life-course theories

-In this theory, it is anchored towards Eriksons psychosocial theory in which, and individual tends to move to another stage unless he / she solves the certain crisis in that stage. Eg: A 50 yr old man tends to care for the younger generations, like his grandchildren instead of doing officework. *genrativity vs stagnatiom = care Continuity theory

-In this theory , the continuity is mainly all about the , usual routine or practices performed by the individual when he or she is still young. In simplier terms , it is basically all about preserving ones adaptive behaviors -Eg: An elderly tries to lighten his emotional problems by sharing it to his loved ones ( This has been practiced by the individual since he was still in his late 30s)

Jake T. Caballo BSN IV-B

Biologic Theories A.Genetic Theory Error & Fidelity Theory This theory is all about the so called errors that occur in our DNA map, thus creating alterations in our cells , thus promoting cell deterioration, and aging Eg: As we age , cellular functions deteriorate especially the reconstructive properties of our body, with the slow or delayed bodily repairs, structural changes occur. Somatic Mutation Theory This theory is about alterations in the genetic sequences due to certain factors , thus, creating mutations and dysfunction in the body. Eg: Exposure to carcinogens and consumption of food additives deteriorates easily the functionality of our organs leading to certain physiologic changes. Glycation Theory This theory is all about the interaction between the glucose and protein components of the body. This also emphasizes that high glucose levels during aging also causes the shortened lifespan of individuals Eg: Diabetic patients have a hard time in making bodily compensatory and defense mechanisms since, glucose have contributed to circulatory problems and organ failure. A1. Theories of Cellular Aging Programmed Cellular Aging Theory In this theory, the RNA translations are decreased thus , reducing functional proteins in the body, This decrease in functional proteins reduce the repair mechanism of the body and leading to permanent bodily dysfunctions Eg: As we age, our DNA and RNA functions are decreased especially in protein synthesis and repair, this leads to delayed repair in the body or inflict permanent bodily alterations.

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Aging Pacemaker Theory In this theory , it is said that body cells collide with one another thus interfering with their individual function Eg: Growth of benign tumors in the brain compresses brain tissue thus causing trauma and deterioration of some neurons A2. Theories of Organ System Autoimmune theory In this theory our body tends to age due auto destruction of some cells in our body thus leading to body function deterioration and destruction of vital organs. It is like your own functional units are against with its own kind Eg: A patient suffering from Guillaine -Barre syndrome has decreased bodily functions since the peripheral nerves are attacked by the immune system following a viral infection . Neuroendocrine Theory This theory is about the deterioration of the functions of the nervous system and the endocrine system. With these alterations, homeostatic bodily functions become decreased, which includes negative feedback mechanism . Eg: Hormones are vital for repairing and regulating our bodily functions, and when aging causes a drop in hormone production, it causes a decline in our body's ability to repair and regulate itself as well. Moreover hormone production is highly interactive. The drop in production of any one hormone is likely to have a feedback effect on the whole mechanism, signaling other organs to release lower levels of other hormones which will cause other body parts to release lower levels of yet other hormones. B. Non-genetic Theories Effects of temperature theory In this theory, it is believed that, the lower the temperature in a certain place metabolic processes are reduced thus lengthening the life of the individual] Eg: An eskimo has a greater life span than ,asian individuals due to different temperature in which they live in.

Jake T. Caballo BSN IV-B

Nutrient Deprivation Theory This theory is all about the process of oxygenation and nutrient distribution among body cells and how they thrive through the deficiency of these supply sustain adequate functioning within changes of level of the oxygen and other nutrients. Eg: Inadequate oxygen supply among cells causes cells to utilize anaerobic metabolism to maintain its function but produces a by product lactic acid in the process which may also be harmful in other aspect of the body. Lipofuscin Theory In this theory the wear and tear theory in the body is likely to be characterized. As an individual ages, his body deteriorates from structural to functional integrity , and thus leading to decrease in bodily functions Eg: Our arteries, and other blood vessels, deteriorates as time pass by, these blood vessels could become loose or incompetent and may become into aneurysms, or more probably prone to plaque build up ,leading to atherosclerosis