1. Healthy Aging

2. More People Are Living Longer  The population size and shape has been changing in the United States.  In 1950, there were few older adults and many children.  In 2020, there will be almost the same number of people in every age group.  The 85-plus age group is the fastest growing population in the world.

3. 1950 U.S. Population Pyramid

4. 2000 U.S. Population Pyramid

5. 2050 U.S. Population Pyramid

6. Body System Changes During Aging  Skin thins; hair often grays, turns white, or falls out.  The cardiovascular system ages when the number of myocardial cells decreases, the valves harden, and the heart hypertrophies.  Renal mass progressively declines and renal weight decreases.  The brain takes longer to retrieve information, white matter shrinks, and neurotransmitters find fewer receptors.  Bones thin and lose strength, joints become stiffer, and muscles lose tone and become stiffer.

7. Aging Theories  Wear and tear  Rate of living  Evolutionary programmed senescence  Immune theory  Free radical or oxidative damage  Telomere theory

8. Wear and Tear Theory  For many years scientists believed that people aged because their bodies were wearing out.  Now scientists know that although muscle mass declines with age, people can improve muscle tone and cardiovascular health.  People don’t just wear out!

9. Rate of Living Theory  The faster the metabolism, the shorter the life span.  This theory is easy to refute—birds live longer than mice but have a much faster metabolism.  Human bodies are more likely to decline and develop disease through disuse rather than overuse.

10. Evolutionary Programmed Senescence  A switch in our genetic code starts the aging process.  How long a species lives may have to do with the amount of energy used for reproduction.  Human beings are the only animals that live many years after the ability to reproduce ends.

11. Immune Theory  With age, the immune system breaks down.  The body can’t fight off chronic diseases or autoimmune diseases.  These diseases cause a decline in function.

12. Free Radical or Oxidative Damage Theory  Free radicals (released during cell production) damage cells and DNA.  Damage contributes to the development of age-related diseases.  Results of a 2007 study suggest that consistent exercise could reduce age- related diseases (Kwak, Song, and Lawler 2007).

13. Telomere Theory  The ends of chromosome strands made from DNA are called telomeres.  Telomeres shrink, getting smaller and smaller each time they divide.  Eventually this causes cells to die and increases the chances of getting a terminal disease.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1zw 6uRxKYU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1zw 6uRxKYU

14. Unhealthy Aging  Chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis)  Immune system malignancies  Stroke  Dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, Pick’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, MID)  Heart attack  Cancer  Pneumonia

15. Lifestyle Influences on the Aging Process  Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily to improve cardiorespiratory health.  Strength training and anaerobic exercise improve muscle tone, balance, and gait.  Eating a balanced diet fights off free radicals and prevents disease.  Membership in social networks lowers mortality.  Developing a spiritual connection may help people live longer.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb_wYVZvxyE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb_wYVZvxyE