Biological Theory of Aging
Biological Theory of Aging Tick tock, tick tock, what 's that sound? According to this theory, it 's your biological clock, ticking away at a predetermined rate. This theory says that DNA, the cells ' genetic material, holds the key to your planned demise from day one. While this aging theory appears fatalistic on the surface, remember that biology is not destiny. You can 't change your genes, but you can slow the march of time with better eating habits and regular exercise. Your body produces hormones that help regulate myriad functions, including growth and behavior, reproduction, and immune function. In your youth, hormone production is high, but as you get older, hormone levels drop off, causing declines in the body 's ability to repair itself and to keep functioning in top form. Working cells produce waste. Over time, cells make more waste than they can possibly get rid of, which may wreak havoc on their ability to function and slowly lead to their death .Lipofuscion, or age pigment, is one of the waste products found primarily in some nerve and heart-muscle cells. Lipofuscin binds fat and proteins together in the cells. It accumulates over time and may interfere with cell function. The protein collagen is at the heart of this theory. Collagen, akin to the body 's glue, is one of the most common proteins making up the skin, bones, ligaments, and tendons. When we 're young, collagen is pliable. But with age, collagen becomes more rigid, and it shrinks. That 's why your skin is less elastic than before (Alston, 2008). Aesthetics aside, cross-linking may block the transport of nutrients into cells as well as obstruct waste-product removal. Free radicals are destructive marauders roving your body, ready to pounce on healthy cells. They are produced as part of the millions of chemical reactions your body performs to sustain life (Ward, 2012). Your body also makes them in response to environmental toxins such as excessive amounts
Bibliography: Alston, Maude H. Basic Gerontology. Windows CD Version 3.0 2008 Ward ,Liz. Discovery Fit and Health. What is Causing Aging? Discovery Communications. 2012.