Week 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of Ageing?
The process of becoming older
Accumulation of physiological, psychological and social changes
What is senescence?
The decline of biological functions
What is chronological age?
exact age from birth - cannot be modified
What is biological age?
Age determined by physiology - can be modified
Someone can have a chronological age of 65 but biological age of 30
What is functional age?
Age in terms of functional performance - can be modified
ex: can you stand up without assistance? Can you carry groceries?
What is the average life expectancy of Canadians?
82
Male: 80
Female: 84
What is gerontology?
The study of ageing
Why has life expectancy risen?
Medicine, fitness/wellness, technology, better hygiene, better education
What is the likelihood of dying as age increases?
After ~30 probability of dying doubles every 8 years
At 100, chance of living to 101 is ~50%
What are the biological theories of aging?
programmed longevity
immunological theory
endocrine theory
wear and tear theory
Explain the programmed longevity theory
Aging is genetically programmed
“Biological clock” turns specific genes on/off - leads to death of cells at a specific time
e.g., Pre-programmed cell death (ex: dying at 65 because cells weree programmed to turn off)
What are telomeres?
caps on the ends of chromosomes
protects DNA from fraying/breaking
What is telomerase?
an enzyme that helps reeplace DNA and replenish lost telomerre
Does not exist in most adult cells, so wee cannot replace DNA as much as we age
What is hay flicks limit?
The limit of time a cell can divide before it dies
Based on Hayflicks Limit, what would be one way to prevent the aging process?
find a way to keep producing telomerase (stem cells), reduce damage to cell division, increase telomere length and upregulate the gene that produces telomerase
