CURRENT THEORIES OF AGING
The mentioned theories of aging are focused on parts of human existence, on the details.
Each part has its importance in the total of the aging process. It is clear that only the total creates the permanence of living. Not the individual part. But an individual “weakness” is a disturbance in the optimum living situation. The parts should be addressed and researched but to get a maximum out of life, the real focused should be the improvement of strong points and not the focus on the weak. Age Control is focused on the promotion of the strong, researching the weak, creating a balance and find ways to improve the best parts to let last health the longest possible.
Withdrawal may be initiated by the aging person or by society and may be partial or total. As people age, they experience greater distance from society & they develop new types of relationships with society. Some spiritually developed societies (such as the American Indians) created a system where elderly voluntary did withdraw from all activities to die. Being disconnected from a strong social environment loads a lot of stress on the individual.
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.
This system is a complicated network of biochemicals that govern the release of hormones which are altered by the walnut-sized gland called the hypothalamus located in the brain. The hypothalamus controls various chain-reactions to instruct other organs and glands to release their hormones etc. The hypothalamus also responds to the body hormone levels as a guide to the overall hormonal activity. But as while growing older the hypothalamus loses it precision regulatory ability and the receptors which uptake individual hormones become less sensitive to them. Accordingly, as aging continues the secretion of many hormones declines and their effectiveness (compared unit to unit) is also reduced due to the receptors down-grading
5.The Membrane Theory of Aging
According to this theory, it is the age-related changes of the cells ability to transfer chemicals, heat and electrical processes that impair it. As aging continues the cell membrane becomes less lipid (less watery and more solid). This impedes its efficiency to conduct normal function and in particular, there is a toxic accumulation
The mitochondria are the power-producing organelles found in every cell of every organ. Their primary job is to create Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and they do so in the various energy cycles that involve nutrients such as Acetyl-L-Carnitine, CoQ10 (Idebenone), NADH and some B vitamins etc.
Enhancement and protection of the mitochondria is an essential part of preventing and slowing aging. Enhancement can be achieved with nutrients, as well as ATP supplements themselves
The Cross-Linking Theory of Aging is referred to as the Glycosylation Theory of Aging. In this theory, it is the binding of glucose (simple sugars) to protein, (a process that occurs in the presence of oxygen) that causes various problems. Once this binding has occurred the protein becomes impaired and is unable to perform as efficiently. Living a longer life is going to lead to the increased possibility of oxygen meeting glucose and protein and known cross-linking disorders include senile cataract and the appearance of tough, leathery and yellow skin.
There is strong evidence supporting the suggestion that aging is in some manner programmed into each species, including humans. This may be controlled neurologically or hormonally through the hypothalamus. Other studies suggest that aging is controlled by the thymus. The gland atrophies at about the onset of adolescence. This implies that aging occurs more readily in the absence of the thymus gland. In studies, cultured cells of a specific type divided a consistent number of times. This implies that the cell’s life cycle is controlled within the cell, rather than externally by the hypothalamus or thymus. Scientists agree that although normal cells may have a limited number of times they can divide this is only rarely if ever, reached in the body.
The gene theory states that aging is programmed due to one or more harmful genes within each organism. The gene theory suggests that human lifespan is an inherited trait. Studies show that identical twins die at similar ages when compared to fraternal twins or siblings.
The autoimmune theory proposes that the immune system is programmed so that it is no longer able to faultlessly distinguish foreign proteins from the body’s own proteins. If this happens the body’s immune system will attack and destroy its own cells. It is well documented that the effectiveness of the immune system peaks at puberty and gradually declines thereafter with the advance in age.
The wear and tear theory of aging was first introduced by Dr. August Weismann, a German biologist, in 1882. It is very logical because it is what happens to the nonliving things that people observe around them (i.e. components of an aging car break due to repeated use). Cells and tissues have vital parts that wear out resulting in aging. Parts of the body eventually wear out from repeated use killing the parts and then the body.
The rate of living theory suggests that each animal, and perhaps each cell, has a specific amount of metabolic energy available to it and that the rate at which this energy is used determines the animal’s length of life. Studies have demonstrated that rats kept on restricted diets and in cold environments live longer. Rats in these conditions have the appearance and behavior of younger animals.
*- These theories have been proven invalid due to the introduction of the Gravity / Air pressure facts. As this is not a theory but a proven everyday fact of life.
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