Week 36

Questions and Observations:
Notes and Resources on Ageing in general together with some Drawings in the form of diagrams and graphs associated with ageing and the ageing process.

General notes on Ageing:

Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group:

 - Mandate-to construct better mathematical representations of changes during the lifespan at the level of molecules, organelles, cells, and tissues and model how these affect each other to determine ageing and age-related diseases in whole organisms. In this context, they are developing a web portal of age-related changes at various biological levels. This new portal, entitled Digital Ageing Atlas, aims to serve as a platform for modeling aging, in particular for developing quantitative and integrative models and for developing system-level models of aging

Findings from model organisms show that ageing is surprisingly plastic and can be manipulated not only by genes (as indicated above) but also by diet. The best-studied dietary manipulation of ageing is caloric restriction (CR), which consists of restricting the food intake of organisms without triggering malnutrition and has been shown to retard ageing across multiple model organisms.

 University of Liverpool:

 - Ageing has been defined as a progressive deterioration of physiological function, an intrinsic age-related process of loss of viability and increase in vulnerability. With the increasing percentage of people over 65 years of age in the UK and in the world, ageing has become a major biological, clinical, social and economic problem.

Research on ageing and longevity has progressed dramatically in recent years. Although the underlying causes of ageing remain largely unknown, breakthroughs have been achieved in different areas. It is now possible to increase lifespan and modulate the ageing process in model organisms through genetic or dietary interventions, opening the door for future interventions on the human ageing process.

Other Notes:
“Humans require positive meaningful interactions with other humans. Lack of stimulation from these types of interactions can lead to depression and cause memory problems,” says Joanne Singleton, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Pace University, Lienhard School of Nursing, and Director of Pace's Institute for Healthy Aging. “Unfortunately not all human interactions are of this nature. In addition to your routine interactions seek out those with whom you can have positive and meaningful interactions.”Contributing something valuable to life builds self-esteem at any age but this is especially important for older people. Their contribution can be paid or unpaid activity in the community or it can be as simple as baking a special pie or building a birdhouse. The contribution is appreciated and valued by others and in turn the older person values him or herself.“Aging isn’t ‘all in your head.’ Tools for introspection are important. Some of the most important dimensions of ‘Conscious Aging’ are lifelong learning, late-life creativity, psychological understanding (for example, through dreams), and meditation and spiritual practices,” adds Harry “Rick” Moody, Director of the Institute for Human Values in Aging and Chairman of the Board of Elderhostel

When psychologist Erik Erikson delineated his concept of the life cycle, he saw the final stage, commencing in one’s 60s, as a retrospective undertaking toward the end of life. Erikson later revisited his earlier work to take into account the new demographics, and warned against “an initial retirement holiday followed by a dangling and unproductive aging of many years’ duration.”

The moment before the “age wave” breaks is truly a unique opportunity for prompting new thinking about it and breaking the stereotype images that are so prevalent in today’s society towards age and ageing.

Best bets:

Resources and Reading as follows;

Holland Sentinel. 2002, Sept. 5. “Negative Images of Aging Take Toll on Elderly, Experts Say.” Holland Sentinel. Available online at http://

hollandsentinel.com/stories/ 090502/new

- “Proper Nutrition 40+” by Marie Truglio-Londrigan Ph.D., R.N.,C.S., GNP http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/nutrition40+.Lives: A Writing Handbook for Seniors" by Francis E. Kazemek
- "From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older" by Zalman Schachter
- 

Keith, Jennie, Christine L. Fry, Anthony P. Resources and Reading:

- “Proper Nutrition 40+” by Marie Truglio-Londrigan Ph.D., R.N.,C.S., GNP http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/nutrition40+.html 
 - “Memory Enhancement” by Joanne K. Singleton, PhD, RN, CS, FNP http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/memoryenhancement.html

"Still Here" 

Keith, Jennie, Christine L. Fry, Anthony P. Glascock, et al. 1994. The Aging Experience: Diversity and Commonality across Cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Kelly, Pam. 2002, December 3. “Ageism’s Stereotypes Getting Old.” The Charlotte Observer. Available online at www.charlotte.com.mld/charlotte/archives.

Glascock, et al. 1994. The Aging Experience: Diversity and Commonality across Cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

"Still Here" by Ram Dass
- "Exploring Our Lives: A Writing Handbook for Seniors" by Francis E. Kazemek
- "From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older" by Zalman Schachter
- "The Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages that Shape Our Lives" by Harry (Rick) Moody