HEALTHY AGING Presented by CONTINUING PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION 8.4 CONTACT HOURS “The ability to prolong life is indeed within our grasp.” Marie-Francoise Schulz-Aellen (1997) Course Objective Learning Objectives The purpose of this course is to provide an Upon completion, the participant will be able to: understanding of the concept of healthy aging. 1. Discuss current biological theories regarding Major topics include current biological theories the causes of aging. of aging, physical factors, prevalent diseases 2. Explain physical factors associated with aging. and health strategies, Baltimore Longitudinal 3. Acknowledge common older adult diseases and Study of Aging, psychological factors, social their recommended preventative measures. factors, long-term care, and the nature of 4. Articulate findings from the Baltimore healthy aging. Longitudinal Study of Aging. 5. Expound upon psychological effects of aging. Accreditation 6. Understand social theories of aging, and the Provider approved by the California Board of value of social support systems. Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 14008, for 7. Describe prevalent concerns in long-term care. 8.4 Contact Hours. 8. Discuss key characteristics which promote In accordance with the California Code of healthy aging. Regulations, Section 2540.2(b) for licensed vocational nurses and 2592.2(b) for psychiatric technicians, this course is accepted by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians Faculty for 8.4 contact hours of continuing education Neil Eddington, Ph.D. credit. Richard Shuman, MFT Mission Statement Continuing Psychology Education provides the highest quality continuing education designed to fulfill the professional needs and interests of nurses. Resources are offered to improve professional competency, maintain knowledge of the latest advancements, and meet continuing education requirements mandated by the profession. Copyright © 2006 Continuing Psychology Education 1 Continuing Psychology Education P.O. Box 9659 San Diego, CA 92169 FAX: (858) 272-5809 phone: 1 800 281-5068 www.texcpe.com HEALTHY AGING INTRODUCTION Arking (1991) describes aging as cumulative, universal, progressive, intrinsic, and deleterious. Gerontologists, Aging is a universal human experience interwoven with those who study the aging process, agree that aging biological, psychological and social complexities. In our involves changes in the chemical composition and younger years, we observe illness and death of older family macroscopic structures of the body; these changes affect the members, with time, we see similar changes in our own organism’s ability to respond adaptively to the environment generation and ultimately within ourselves. This process is - at all levels, from the synthesis of molecules to cognitive viewed as inevitable and natural, yet, it is also interesting abilities (Adelman, 1980); and there is greater vulnerability because these changes unfold differently in each of us. to diseases and to environmental changes and demands Nelson and Dannefer (1992) observed increasing diversity leading to a heightened risk of dying (Shock, 1985). over the adult years on various performance measures Aging is measured at different levels: the population level suggesting that with age, we become more unlike each examines the life span of individuals; the individual other. The principle of multi-directionality of development organism level assesses changes in physiological- (Baltes & Graf, 1996) suggests that systems within the biochemical functions; the cellular level involves structural person develop at different rates - some functions may and biochemical factors; and the subcellular level focuses reveal positive changes and others negative changes over on changes in molecules, for example, the activity of time. Even within the same function, such as intelligence, a enzymatic and repair systems functioning in cells. person may exhibit gains in one area and losses in another Aging is attracting the attention of business and industry, with aging. These individual differences shed optimism politicians, the media, and the general public due to a and refute the myth that all functioning “goes downhill” as rapidly aging society. Data collected by the World Health we grow older. In fact, an older adult who exercises and Organization (WHO) indicates that industrialized countries remains active may be stronger, quicker and more mentally of the world will be forced to address a phenomenon which agile than a sedentary younger person. humanity has never encountered - demographic changes Though aging is a basic aspect of life, scientific research, creating a society dominated in many respects by the needs including genetic and biochemical bases of disease of an aging or aged population. This shift in the processes, experimental studies of aging in animals, and dependency ratio will affect America’s resources and evolutionary biology is allowing for greater intervention various social structures such as the family, health care, into the aging process. Such progress is timely as caring for pension and retirement practices, political processes, the growing number of elderly is becoming vital. Life community and recreational services and housing. As a expectancy - the average number of years of life remaining group, the elderly will have a greater influence on many to a person at a particular age - from birth, has risen overall aspects of society as they spend more money, use more from 62.9 years in 1940 to 76.5 years in 1997; from age 65, services and possess more political power. An improved life expectancy is estimated to be 18 years (Hoyert & understanding of the aging process is recommended to Murphy, 1999). The number of Americans over age 65 has adapt to the changes that will likely occur. To offer greater grown from 3.1 million in the year 1900 (roughly 4% of the medical and social opportunities to older people designed to population) to over 34 million in 1997 (almost 13% of the improve aging, in the near future, more physicians, nurses, population). By 2030, the number is estimated at 69.4 social workers, counselors, nursing home managers, and million (about 20% of the population). Further, the oldest- many other positions will be needed than are available old group, age 85 and older, is expected to rise at the presently. highest rate from currently 1.5% of the population to 2.4% by 2030 to 3.7% by 2040. Not long ago, these advanced BIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF AGING ages were not thought possible, yet, interest currently mounts to further increase the human life span and Two categories comprise the biological theories of aging: biomedical advances are attempting to delay or eliminate programmed aging and random error. Programmed aging the afflictions of aging. theories are based on the belief that aging and death are Factors contributing to longer life span include lower built into the hard-wiring of all organisms. Random error infant mortality, improved prenatal and postnatal medical theories believe that aging is due to random damage to an care, drugs against infectious diseases, and improved organism over time. nutrition and personal/public hygiene. Research has led to illnesses such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, smallpox, PROGRAMMED AGING THEORIES measles and many other infectious diseases becoming curable. Despite the convincing increase in longevity, Genetic life-span theory - It is assumed that “aging genes” many scientists and medical doctors believe that we die too exist that count off the years past maturity just as there are soon. They are convinced that the potential life span is “development genes” which lead to the point of maturity in about 120 years. Agreed upon is the need to understand the youth. Supportive of this assumption is the fact that life mechanisms of current incurable diseases and of the span varies according to species, therefore, life span may be biological process of aging itself. part of an organism’s genetic makeup. For instance, a 2 Continuing Psychology Education Copyright © 2006 Continuing Psychology Education HEALTHY AGING butterfly’s life span is 3 months, a human is 120 years, and is governed by the neuroendocrine system, hence, a giant tortoise 180 years. examination of the neuroendocrine system related to aging Large human population studies in Sweden revealed that seems logical. longevity has a heritability index (indicates the degree to Research has shown that the longevity of some animals which a characteristic is inherited) of .26 in men and .23 in may double when they are raised with a diet which contains women (Herskind et al., 1996a, 1996b). To identify and all essential nutrients but is low in calories. It is control the “aging” gene (if it truly exists) could potentially hypothesized that caloric restriction slows aging by change the nature of aging. retarding the hypothalamic chronometer in the brain. There The assumption that length of life is genetically is evidence to support this hypothesis, however, an programmed by one or multiple genes controlling the aging explanation of how it works (if it does) is lacking process from birth to death, however, is not regarded as (Weindruch & Walford, 1988). viable. Another potential neuroendocrine factor affecting aging is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands called Genetic postreproduction theory - This variant of the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This hormone is found genetic life-span theory suggests that evolution has selected in larger amounts in young adults then decreases with age.