The subject of aging in organisms has intrigued many researchers who have resulted in establishing the scientific facet of aging and longevity of life. The human body undergoes various changes since the time of birth until the later ages. Understanding the biology of aging requires a credible analysis of the causes of various body changes that appear chronologically as an individual grows. Signs of aging in the human body include reduced rate of cell division, development of cardiovascular-related diseases, weak skeletal system, and muscle degeneration. Aging in humans is characterized by biological changes in various body organs. The physiological changes result in old age-related illnesses.
Significant Changes in The Body Through the Life Span
Significant body changes during aging include; cardiovascular changes, skeletal and muscle changes, sensory changes, oral changes, and gastrointestinal changes. The cardiovascular system develops changes in the response of valves. The valve system is weakened by old age and result in impaired performances of the heart in its functions (Baltes, Rudolph & Zacher, 2019).
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Moreover, the fiber that constitutes the myogenic tissues wear out with old age. The vigor of the heart in pumping blood to the furthest body parts begins to deteriorate. Moreover, the elasticity of the blood veins and capillaries reduces during the life span. Reduced elasticity of blood vessels reduces pressure in the circulatory system and therefore resulting in hypertension.
Skeletal changes manifest through osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a situation characterized by brittleness in the bones. Old age causes loss of tissues from bones and hence making them fragile. Moreover, muscle degeneration is a change that results from impaired cell division in the muscle tissues. Muscle degeneration appears as a reduced mass in muscles. These changes in the skeletal system transform into impaired mobility at old age. The human body also experiences changes in sensory responses. Basic senses such as hearing, touch, and smell reduce with increased impairment of nervous coordination. (Baltes, Rudolph & Zacher, 2019) The changes in oral health manifest through the loss of teeth — hormonal imbalance at old age results in reduced gastrointestinal performance. Old age causes the uncensored secretion of hormones, which interfere with pH levels in the abdominal chambers and therefore causing impaired digestive performance.
Longevity and The Biological Aspect of Aging
Gerontology focuses on the behavior of cells to establish a reliable natural explanation of aging. Human cells are responsible for growth and development in the human body. Changes in cellular structures and mechanisms of operation in the body cause aging. During advanced age, the levels of purine base in the DNA of cells begin to reduce and hence to reduce the potency of genes to replicate (Santrock, 2018).
Moreover, as one advances in age, there is increased destruction of the cell's DNA, proteins, lipids, and RNA. However, the body attempts to fight to age through self-DNA repair and the use of anti-oxidant. Nevertheless, like old age advances, the rate of DNA destruction exceeds the rate of DNA repair and therefore resulting in adverse cell malfunction.
The Aging Theory That Explains David's Condition of Oxidation Damage in Cells
The aging theory that best relates to the oxidation damage is the free radical theory of aging. The free fundamental theory argues that metabolic reactions in the body produce molecular oxygen as a by-product (Santrock, 2018). The molecular oxygen reduces metabolites, which result in the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The reactive oxygen species cause oxidation damages to the cells, and the accumulation of these damages results in aging.
The Aging Theory That Explains Saria's Condition of Damaged Cellular Structures
The theory that accounts for the damaging of cellular structure is the Somatic DNA damage theory (Santrock, 2018). The doctrine holds that when DNA damage repair in the body surpasses DNA destruction, polymerases are reduced and therefore resulting in corrosion of cell structures by unstable ROS.
The Aging Theory That Explains Jacob's Condition of High Secretion of Stress Hormones
The explanation of the state of secreting excess stress hormones uses the endocrine approach of old aging. The theory holds that the human body uses hormones to control the performance of the body in response to stimuli (Santrock, 2018). The theory argues that high-stress levels at old age inhibit the production of IGF-1 signal pathways that regulate hormone secretion.
The Aging Theory That Explains Kara's Reduced Rate of Cell Division at Old Age
The cross-linking method describes Kara's condition of reduced cell division. (Santrock, 2018). Cross-linking method argues that continued accretion of linkage proteins in the cells impairs the cell potency to divide. Reduced performances of the body cells resulting in a feeling of withdrawn mood.
References
Baltes, B., Rudolph, C. W., & Zacher, H. (Eds.). (2019). Work Across the Lifespan. Academic Press.
Santrock, J. W. (2018). LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT. McGraw-Hill Education.
