Aging is a natural and integral part of human life. An individual’s functional ability and health often depends on the process of aging and the way he undergoes this process (Ayatu, Azarani, & Hubbard, 2014). Aging is progressive, typical to every member of a particular species, and it involves adverse mechanisms which impact an individual’s ability to perform various functions. Aging is an extremely variable and complex phenomenon. Organisms often undergo a significant decline in their functional capacities and their capacity to maintain homeostasis due to the aging process. The process of aging is slow and dynamic, and it involves many external and internal aspects; this includes the social and physical environments and genetic programming (Leung, & World Scientific, 2011). The process of aging is a multidirectional and multidimensional and it incorporates a significant variability in rate and direction of a particular transition (change). Healthy aging gives individuals an opportunity to discern their potential for mental, social, and physical well-being throughout their life course. A life course viewpoint on aging concedes that older individuals are not one same grouping and that the diversity among individuals often increases with age. Interventions aimed at creating supportive surroundings and promoting healthy choices are, therefore, important in every stage of life as a way of facilitating active aging.
Activities that promote healthy aging include physical activities such as exercises, cognitive activities or simulation, and social engagement and leisure activities (Moreira et al., 2018). An international consensus on physical activity, health, and fitness distinguish the primary areas impacted by physiological processes: metabolic fitness, motor fitness, skeletal flexibility, muscular strength, bone strength, and body shape. Other areas that benefit from physical activities include social engagements, mental health, and cognitive function. Physical exercise relates to the methodically patterned time activity executed to attain desirable fitness sequels, for instance, improved physical performance, and general health. Physical activity aids in the prevention of the negative impacts on one’s health and functional ability due to aging. Physical activity is also significant in preventing premature death due to disorders such as heart diseases. Physical activity is crucial in reducing the risk of exposure to life-threatening disorders such as stroke, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease, and it increases one’s capacity to live independently by improving aspects such as muscle strength, and stamina. Additionally, physical activity aid in the significant reduction of depression, stress, and anxiety. There is a significant association amid cognitive functioning and physical activity. Longitudinal research reveals that low physical activity levels at baseline were significantly interconnected with low scores in cognitive evaluations in an individual’s advanced stage in life (Nyman et al ., 2018).
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Studies aimed at assessing the impacts of physical activity in individuals suffering from MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) indicated modest and sustained improvement in memory over an eighteen-month follow-up period (Nyman et al., 2018). A socially and cognitively challenging environment fosters an improved cognitive performance amid individuals. On the contrary, an environment with insignificant levels of simulation encourages boredom which, in turn, promotes cognitive decline. Social networks and social interactions challenge people to communicate or converse and utilize their cognitive capacities to understand both non-verbal and verbal communication and aid in maintaining cognitive abilities in old age. The active involvement in cognitively simulating social and leisure activities fosters an improved memory function, decreased levels of depression, and it enhances an increase in life satisfaction. Studies reveal that participating in various leisure activities reduces the risk of exposure to dementia, a mental disorder (Moreira et al ., 2018). Additionally, the successful aging theory distinguishes sustained engagement in various productive and social activities as a crucial aspect of healthy aging (Leung &World Scientific, 2011).
In conclusion, Aging is a natural and fundamental part of human life which impacts one’s s functional ability and health. The process of aging is slow and dynamic, and it incorporates many external and internal aspects; this includes the social and physical environments and genetic programming. Activities aimed at promoting healthy aging include physical activities such as exercises, cognitive activities or simulation, and social engagement and leisure activities. Physical activity is ta methodically patterned time activity performed with the aim of attaining desirable fitness sequels, for instance, improved physical performance, and general health. Physical activity aids in the prevention of premature death reduces the risk of exposure to life-threatening disorders, increases one’s capacity to live independently, and it aids in the significant reduction of depression, stress, and anxiety. A socially and cognitively challenging environment fosters an improved cognitive performance amid individuals. The active involvement in cognitively simulating social and leisure activities promotes an improved memory function, decreased levels of depression, and it enhances an increase in life satisfaction.
References
Ayati, M., Azarani, A., & Hubbard, P. L. (2014). Paths to healthy aging: A workbook . Charleston, S.C: Ayati and Azarani.
Leung, P.-C., & World Scientific (Firm). (2011). Healthy Aging . Singapore: World Scientific Pub. Co.
Moreira, P. S., Santos, N., Castanho, T., Amorim, L., Portugal-Nunes, C., Sousa, N., & Costa, P. (2018). Longitudinal measurement invariance of memory performance and executive functioning in healthy aging. PLoS ONE , 13 (9), 1–11.
Nyman, S. R., Barker, A., Haines, T., Horton, K., Musselwhite, C., Peeters, G., Victor, C. R., Wolff, J. K. (2018). The Palgrave handbook of aging and physical activity promotion . Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.
