Throughout history, mankind has been obsessed with discovering a cure for any ailments or disorders that could disrupt or hinder their short lives, especially those to evade the aging process. With society becoming increasingly interested in everlasting beauty and living longer, the race to discover the main contributor toward aging begun in the early nineteen hundreds. In the midst of this quest, several biological theories had been developed. Among these theories is the immunity or immunological theory. This paper will discuss the immunological theory of aging by explaining the theory, giving a history of its origin and a description of further development within the evolution of the theory.
Aging, as exhibited within the immunity theory, was described as a pre-programmed accumulation of damage, decay and decline within the function of the immune system caused by oxidative stress as a result of the Hayflick limit or biological clock (Touhy and Jett, 2012). This limit refers to the idea that aging is the result of cell and organisms containing a genetically predetermined life span (Touhy and Jett, 2012). This suggested that in relation to a cell’s proliferative instinct, aging becomes more relevant within an individual when the cells reach the limit, introducing cellular errors of imperfect proliferations that result into further damage. Furthermore, no cell within the body has seemed to be above this concept, including the B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes of the immune system. In fact, cellular errors within the immune system have been found to cultivate an autoregressive phenomenon in which normal cells are misidentified as foreign and are consequently destroyed by the body’s own immune system (Touhy and Jett, 2012). The dest...
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...otecting them from further dangerous exogenous substances, a price is later paid with a weakened dysregulated immune system, becoming susceptible to aging and age related diseases (DeVeale, Brummel & Seroude, 2004). Despite continued research into the complex aging process, humans are continually aging both physically and mentally. However, just as the immune system is a part of the complexity of the human being, so is aging (Effros, 2005).
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Effros, R. B. (2005). Roy Walford and the immunologic theory of aging. Immunity & Ageing, 27-3. doi:10.1186/1742-4933-2-7
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Aging / HSF1 / UPR (Ben-Zvi et al., 2009; Cohen et al., 2012; Denny et al., 2013)
Jacobsen, L. A., Kent, M., Lee, M., & Mather, M. (2001). America's aging population. Population Bulletin, 66(1).
Humans undergo several stages during their lifetime including growth, development, reproduction and senescence. Senescence is defined as the deteriorative biological changes that organisms experience as they age eventually leading to death. These changes include low metabolism, a weak immune system, memory loss, poor vision and loss of hearing. Senescence begins in humans during their post-reproductive years. However, gerontology research has shown that individuals who reproduce late have longer life spans compared to individuals who reproduce early. Nonetheless, it does not indicate that senescence is inevitable. All organisms experience senescence, but at different rates and time. Many genetic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease are prevalent in older individuals and the symptoms being to appear in middle adulthood. The causes of genetic diseases and disabilities in older individuals are explained by three evolutionary theories: antagonistic pleiotropy theory, mutation accumulation theory and disposable soma theory. These theories suggest that favorable natural selection and heavy allocation of resources for somatic maintenance during the reproductive period decreases the chances of genetic diseases in younger individuals.
Although gross medical advancements have allowed the human population to live longer and fuller lives without the threat of death from infectious diseases, it is apparent that we are now dealing with a different phenomenon that may be just as harmful to our health. The impact of psychological, social and environmental factors from our daily lives is having a drastic impression on the mental and physical wellbeing of our society. It has been shown in various studies that psychological and neurological factors influence the immune system and can have an effect on our health (Breedlove, Rosenzweig & Watson, 2010). As we allow various stressors, poisonous substances, unhealthy diets and lack of rest to overwhelm our existence, we are inevitably shortening our life span and killing our bodies.
Touhy, T. A., & Jett, K. (2012). Toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Mosby.
In the 16th century, rumors of the Fountain of Youth had spread like wildfire. The thought of immortality, and everlasting youth had fascinated many old, and young adventurers. Most Eukaryotic organism cells are affected by a biological process known as aging. Effect of aging may include the advent of illness, disease, and ultimately death. Death, this fear of end existence had enthralled many people on the quest for prolonged longevity. Therefore, how do we extend our lifespan? Where is this “Fountain of Youth” ? Although the latter question may forever remain a lucrative theory. Perhaps the answer to prolonged longevity may reside on a little known region of a chromosomes, the telomeres.
Common sense seems to dictate that we are all going to die one day. As we all get older we crave to keep our youth, and to stay young forever is the ultimate dream. The thought of a possible immortality is just an added benefit. Even though we have strived towards this goal for centuries, have we obtained advances in successfully staying young forever? In Bill Gifford’s book “Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever (Or Die Trying)” he explores these ideas of life and aging further. In this novel, he goes on a journey to try and debunk the mysteries and questions behind the new science of aging. He gathers information from tests and scientists from around the country to discover what really works to prevent or delay aging and what is just a hopeful hoax. He helps us figure out why we age and why aging
Aging occurs in every species. Over time a change occurs on a cellular level in a person’s body, which causes degenerative effects on the brain, muscles, organs, bones, hormones, and DNA. In 1991, the book Evolutionary Biology of Aging, offered the following definition of aging: a persistent decline in the age-specific fitness components of an organism due to internal physiological deterioration.1 Aging affects the body physically and mentally. Many people dread getting older due to the numerous changes the body goes through. The geriatric population experiences many pains and is inflicted with various diseases. There are a few who are lucky enough to not get diagnosed with a life altering disease, such as Alzheimer’s, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, or some form of cancer. Studies have shown that genetics play a vital role in the aging process.
There are a number of benefits to be found from thinking about ageing as a lifelong process and not just one that affects older people. This essay will define some of these benefits whilst backing up this reasoning with reference to the K118 material. It will then explain briefly which experiences I have had personally which have led me to responding to the question in this manner.
The concept of successful aging is also termed as super aging or optimal health, coined by Rowe & Kahn in 1987. Fundamentally, successful aging in the elderly illustrates neither usual aging (a gradual decrease in biological and psychological functioning) nor pathological aging. Instead, it illustrates a form of aging connected to a reduced possibility of disability or disease, increased physical and cognitive functioning, including autonomy maintained. Aging and old age for a long time presented as dominated by negative traits and states such as sickness, depression and isolation. The aging process is not simply senescence; most people over the age of 65 are not senile, bedridden, isolated, or suicidal (Aldwin & Levenson, 1994).
SÍTAR, M.E., YANAR, K., AYDIN, S. and ÇAKATAY, U., CURRENT ASPECTS OF AGEING THEORIES AND CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO MECHANISMS. .
play a large part in our health and our developmental status. The role of age
Strawbridge, W. J., Wallhagen, M. I., & Cohen, R. D. (2002). Successful aging and well-being: Self-rated compared with Rowe and Kahn. The Gerontologist, 42(6), 727–33.
Aging is a fact of life. As the years progress, the amount of aging individuals in the United States has been projected to increase considerably. In fact, Wiener and Tilly (2002) expressed that, the number of aging individuals is estimated to increase by 135% between 2000 and 2050. Moreover, the number of aging minorities is expected to increase as well. By the turn of the next midcentury, they are projected to increase by 500% (Scharlach, Fuller-Thomson & Kramer 2002). With this substantial growth, I set out to uncover the underlying reasons to why the quality and longevity of life for those of the aging minority differ in comparison to their counterparts. Through critical analysis, theoretical perspectives, I intend to discover the societal views, strengths and differences that exists among minorities.