Aging, Quality of Life, and Social Support

Aging And Theories Of Aging

Aging is a multi-dimensional change that includes changes within physical, psychological, as well as social aspects. It can be described as progressive deterioration of the physical and mental functions resulting in a simultaneous decline in both the capacity if the body to maintain homeostatic balance as well the adaptability of the individual to various stressors and thereby increasing the chances of illness and morality. However, not all individuals age in a similar way. In biological terms, aging is a dynamic process that represents the molecular, biochemical, physiological, and structural changes that take place in individual following the end of growth (Dey, 2003). Life is a continuous growth. It begins from infancy to old age and a process through childhood to adulthood and ultimately terminates with the death of an individual (Bhatia, 1983). In general, old age is related with deterioration of physical and mental capacities at a specific chronological age which is usually considered at the age of sixty. The truth about aging is that it is natural and universal process. It is not at all a crisis which hits us suddenly and abruptly in the middle age. It is a continuous unfolding cycle of change that begins to operate even before our birth (Oberoi & Dey, 1991). The process of aging is as old as life. According to the biological point of view, the wear and tear, the building (anabolic) and break down (catabolic) of cells (metabolic process) in the body starts early in the life, even in the prenatal period and continues all through life. However, in the later years of life, the replacement or repair gradually slows and become inefficient. The catabolism (debit) predominates over (credit). Wear and tear becomes more visible in its gross form. Though, Ramamurti (2008) has pointed out the factors, that contribute to ageing may be not only at the genetic level, but also in the body system, the metabolic process, the environment and life style or may be disease included.