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Ageing and health

from Psychology, health and illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2014

By
ElaineeQ. A. Leventhal
Edited by
Susan Ayers ,
Andrew Baum ,
Chris McManus ,
Stanton Newman ,
Kenneth Wallston ,
John Weinman  and
Robert West
ElaineeQ. A. Leventhal
Affiliation:
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Susan Ayers
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
Andrew Baum
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Chris McManus
Affiliation:
St Mary's Hospital Medical School
Stanton Newman
Affiliation:
University College and Middlesex School of Medicine
Kenneth Wallston
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
John Weinman
Affiliation:
United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's
Robert West
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
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Summary

Although there have been many theories advanced to account for ageing with none gaining wide acceptance, some generalizations are agreed upon by most investigators. The life span is represented by growth and development and then decline or senescence (normal ageing) over time. These are not static stages but represent the continuously changing processes of the life cycle. Senescence results from declines in actual numbers of active metabolic cells and cellular functions because of the accumulation of environmental exposures and behaviours coupled with genetic vulnerabilities over time (Jazwinski, 1996; Kirkwood, 1996).

However, individuals also have an innate and unique genetic or biological plasticity that is coupled with adaptive or coping strategies for the management of ageing-related somatic changes. Thus ageing also produces increasing heterogeneity between individuals as they age. Coupled with this heterogeneity and particular health behaviours can be seen differential rates of decline and change among cells, tissues and organ systems, so that individuals will age at different rates with some biologically ‘old’ at 45, while others can be vigorous and ‘young’ at 75.

General ageing

Generally, with senescence, there is a quantitative loss of tissue mass as well as functional decline. An example of functional changes can be seen in the timing of circadian rhythms that affect temperature control, sleep patterns and the secretion of hormones such as cortisol, as well as growth hormone, the gonadotropins, thyrotrophin and melatonin.

Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine , pp. 20 - 23
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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