- Dr Asawari Peter

Definition of Ageing
Aging is a complex biological process in
which changes at molecular, cellular, and organ
levels result in a progressive, inevitable, and
inescapable decrease in the body's ability to
respond appropriately to internal and/or
external stressors.
AGEING


 Multidimensional process of
Physical,Psychological & Social Change.

 Continuous & cumulative-From conception to

death.

 First 2 decades of life- phase of productive

ageing process.

 Degenerative ageing process- 3rd decade

 ELDERLY POPULATION
High fertility + Low mortality during the
20th century has resulted in large and rapid
increases in elderly populations

Elderly accounts for 7.5 % of total Indian

population.(According to 2001 census)
Types of ageing
 Chronological ageing

 Biological ageing

 Social ageing

 Pathological
 Classification of aging

 Young-old group : 65-74 yrs of age

 Middle-old group: 75-84 yrs of age

 Old-old group : Older than 85 yrs of age

Why do we
age???
 EVOLUTIONARY SENESCENCE
THEORY
 Natural selection

 Genes and mutations that have harmful effects

that appear only after reproduction is over.

 Passed on to future generations.

 In 1952, Peter Medawar proposed that the
inability of natural selection to influence late-
life trait could mean that genes with
detrimental late-life effects could continue to
be passed from generation to generation.
(Mutation Accumulation Theory)
 Antagonistic pleiotropy(George Williams)

 Genes that increase the odds of successful

reproduction early in life may have deleterious
effects later in life.

 Because the gene’s harmful effects do not

appear until after reproduction is over, they
cannot be eliminated through natural selection.
 Example p53 gene that directs damaged cells to
stop reproducing or die.

 It is likely that tinkering with genes to improve

late-life fitness could have a detrimental effect
on health at younger ages.
 The theory predicts that delaying the age of
reproduction should delay aging, as it would
increase the power of natural selection later in
life.
 DISPOSABLE SOMA THEORY
 Thomas Kirkwood(1970)

 Organisms have to balance the demands of

maintaining their body, or soma, cells and
reproducing.

 Overtime mutations and other cellular damage

accumulate in the soma because the body
cannot repair all of it.
 Species, such as mice, invest more energy in
reproduction than in maintaining health
because an individual is unlikely to live long
anyway.

 Humans can therefore allocate more resources

to repairing physical damage since they can
reproduce over a longer period of time
HOW DO WE
AGE???
 Theories of Ageing
 Biological theories:
❑ Genetic theory
❑ Non-genetic theory
 Psychosocial theories:
❑ Disengagement theory
❑ Activity theory
❑ Continuity theory
BIOLOGICAL
THEORIES
 GENETIC THEORIES
 DNA & genetic theory

 Cross-linking theory

 Hayflick limit theory

 Non – genetic theories
Wear and tear theory
Altered protein theory
Mitochondrial decline theory
Free radical theory
Neuroendocrine theory
Waste accumulation theory
 GENETIC CONTROL THEORY
 It focuses on the genetic programming encoded
within our DNA.

 Unique genetic code

 Predetermined tendency to certain types of

physical and mental functioning.

 Tell about how long we live.

 Each of us has a biological clock ticking away
set to go off at a particular time.

 The timing on this genetic clock is subject to

enormous variation
 CROSS-LINKING THEORY
 Glycosylation theory of aging.

 Proteins,DNA, and other structural molecules

develop inappropriate attachments or crosslinks
to one another.

 Decrease the mobility or elasticity of proteins

and other molecules.
 Normally broken down by proteases

 Presence of cross-linkages inhibits the activity

of proteases.

 These damaged and unneeded proteins,

therefore, stick around and can cause problems.
 HAYFLICK LIMIT THEORY
 Hayflick Leonard

 Biological clock

 Human fibroblast cells have a limited life span.

 Divide approximately 50 times over a period of

years and then suddenly stopped.
 Nutrition affect on the rate of cell division.

 Overfed cells made up to 50 divisions in a

year, while underfed cells took up to 3 times as
long as normal cells.
 WEAR & TEAR THEORY
 Body and its cells are damaged by overuse and
abuse.

 Factors affecting:
 Toxins in diet & environment;
 Excessive consumption of fat,sugar, caffeine,
alcohol and nicotine;
  By the ultraviolet rays of the sun and
 By the many other physical and emotional
stresses to which we subject our bodies.

 NOT confined to organs, but also takes place

on the cellular level.
 ALTERED PROTEIN THEORY

 Increase in no. of altered proteins with increase

in age.

 Change in ability to remove old cells

 FREE RADICAL THEORY:
 Free radicals are reactive molecules containing
one or more unpaired electrons.

 Originates from Oxidative Phosphorylation

 To attack other molecules indiscriminately and

cause fragmentation or cross-linking of
molecules.
 Mitochondrial DNA> Nuclear DNA.

 Production controlled by enzymes like

superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase &
glutathione peroxidase.
FREE RADICAL THEORY
 MITOCHONDRIAL THEORY

 Mitochondria-lack most of the defenses

 Electrons leaking from the ETC reduce

molecular oxygen to form O2- which can
cause the generation of other ROS.
 Damage to ETC components and mtDNA,
thus increasing further the production of ROS.

‘VICIOUS CYCLE’
NEUROENDOCRINE HYPOTHESIS
 Vladimir Dilman & Ward Dean

 Hypothalamus

 Cortisol & Estrogen

 Later-life reduction of hormones,responsible

for aging.
 Waste accumulation
theory
 Cells produce more waste than they can
properly eliminate.

 Waste Accumulation-interfere with normal cell

function-ultimately kills cell.

 Lipofuscin- most commonly heart & nerves

PSYCHOSOCIAL
THEORIES
 DISENGAGEMENT THEORY
 Mutual agreement between the older adult and
society to separate from each other

 Beneficial to both

 Very controversial theory

 ACTIVITY THEORY
 People need to stay active if they are to age
successfully

 Promotes life satisfaction and positive self

concept

 Can be either physical or intellectual

 CONTINUITY THEORY
 How a person has been throughout life so
he/she will be throughout the reminder of
his/her life

 As people age,they try to maintain or continue

pervious habits, preferences,commitments,
values and beliefs
VISUAL SYSTEM
 Visual acuity may decline

 Trouble adapting to dark or bright light

 Reduced visual field

 Miosis

 Decreased tears
 Hard to differentiate blue & green than yellow
& red

 Yellowing & opacity of cornea

 Increase in size & density of lens

 Atrophy of ciliary muscles

 Decrease in blood supply & neurons in retina

HEARING
 Presbycusis

 Decrease in sensitivity to high frequency tones

 Impairment if speech discrimination especially

for the specific sounds of the alphabet
(s,sh,ch,f,g,t,z);
 Pinna droops as we age

 External auditory canal grows hair

 Ear drum becomes thinner and flaccid

 Decrease in blood supply to inner ear

 Excess bone formation

 Membranes becomes less flexible

 Small bones become stiffer

 Degeneration of vestibular system

 Equilibrium and balance is compromised

 VESTIBULAR SYSTEM
 Degeneration of vestibular system

 Presbyastasis
- Decline in hair cells of saccule, utricle
And semicircular canals

 Equilibrium and balance is compromised

 TASTE & SMELL
 Decline in the ability to taste especially after
the age of 80.

 Sense of smell may diminish, especially after

age 70.
 HEARING
30% people over
age 65 have
impairment

TOUCH- VISION
Gradual -Usually need
reduction after glasses by 55
50- injuries, -Only 15-20%
hypothermia SENSES have ↓ driving
ability
Normal acuity
↓ with age

SMELL-
Decreases after
70 yrs- may TASTE- Minimal
affect hygiene changes
SKIN CHANGES
 Loss of underlying connective tissue, fat and
oil glands → wrinkles, sagging skin,loss of
elasticity

 Thinner, paler, and translucent

 Increased sensitivity to heat/cold, bruising, and

bedsores
 “Age Spots" due to deposits of melanin
pigment
 Ability to perspire is decreased
 HAIR & NAIL CHANGES
HAIR
 Hair color is due to pigment ‘melanin’-
gradually decreases after age 30-40

 Loses pigmentation → turns hair gray/white

 Manifests earliest in scalp, followed by

facial/body hair
 Occurs earlier in Caucasians compared to
Asians
 Alopecia- baldness/ hair loss
 Coarsening of hair common

Nails:
 Become dull, brittle, ridged, thickened, grow
slower
 METABOLIC SYSTEM
 After age of 25, approximately a 1% decrease
per year in their metabolic rate.

 This overall slowing results in food being less

well absorbed and utilized.

 decrease in the overall metabolism of drugs.

THANK YOU…