On What Processes Cause Aging

     I find this reading to be wonderfully educational and interesting.  I am thankful that we have started here with a biological approach to what aging truly is. I never thought about the evolutionary aging effects and the ideas such as birds having exceptionally healthy aging.  This idea comparing the aging rates of humans to other organisms strikes my interests in my biological studies, but I will continue to hold out until plants and non-animal organisms are discussed. 

     Thinking about how aging is caused by a natural progression of the body is one thing, but connecting it to the processes that keep us alive and thus release chemicals which more or less pollute our bodies and lead to the degeneration of our bodies.  This shows how living really does lead to aging in a scientifically explained manner.  What if humans found a way to extract these excess chemicals from the body or discover a way to put them to a different use? Could we then end the effects of aging and craft a world where people can live forever? Could these cure diseases caused my aging such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases?  And an additional question side topic, what are doctors doing now in preventative measures of aging effects? Are there any preventative measures taken for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases?
     It is intriguing, the idea that aging cannot be escaped. No matter how healthily you live your life you body will still naturally age bit by bit.  So instead of thinking of healthy activity of healthy living one could consider a healthy lifestyle a process of healthy aging, which brings me to look at this course differently for we may not be looking at healthy patterns of aging but rather living healthy lifestyles in attempts to age in a healthier process.  However, the course title could also still refer to any topic involved in healthy aging, and I personally still would love to explore the idea of healthy psychological aging.  Not knowing the true definition still brings me to see how much I still have to learn and even though I have heard so many definitions of healthy aging I encounter more everyday.  The next step is to find one that I believe fits the concept best and define healthy aging for myself, but I want to be more knowledgeable first. 
     The reading discusses in detail the effect of cellular respiration on aging and this is shocking to me that our natural processes which are essential to keep us alive are ultimately pulling us closer to death.  Then into the factor that leads mitochondria to fail and cause oxidation in the body shows even more how serious this process of the mitochondria and its output is. I find this to be highly interesting and even more understandable why society strives to be healthier and reduce oxidants and why antioxidants are so important.  But if aging occurs naturally why should we try to reverse the effects? Why don't we just work to maintain them at a healthy level? Or is that what we are doing?

And with this my mind is racing with all the possibilities behind this idea of "healthy aging" what a semester it will be. (:

     Then on a complete tangent I would like to compliment the writer of this book.  He writes in way which draws the reader to fully understand the information but also provides some relief from the straight facts.  I enjoy his anecdotes and little additives (such as that about catalase and glutathione being good scrabble words) and just the use of specific case stories to allow for a full understanding of all that goes into what he is writing about.  This often is not accomplished in these sorts of texts. It’s refreshing to read a scientific book that is entertaining as well as educational. 

And the learning begins.

While reading up on various topics about healthy aging i came upon this quote from here

Older people tend to feel about 13 years younger than their chronological age.

Which comes from a study of numbers of men and women who reported on how they felt about their age.  They were tracked over a period of 6 years and told about their satisfaction with aging.

I feel like this is contradictory to what I have believed for a long time, for older people constantly complain about how old they feel and the various losses they have in their world (eye sight, motor functions, etc.).  This also is bizarre for it sets a standard for how an age actually feels.  Why isnt it that these people suggested in the quote actually feel their age and other just feel older than their age. These people are being analyzed from what sounds like self reports and this has to be weaker than information brought about by psychological analysis.  Ultimately I feel as though these feelings of the subjects could totally be created in their minds- I would be highly interested in a study where a subject was not informed of thier age ever and at an appropriate age was put into positions which would be found by socitey to be better suited for a different age group.  I feel the outcome of such a study could tell us more about age and what makes us "feel" younger or older. As that same website suggests that many of the stereo typical factors that humans tag with being "old" come more from the depression and inactivity of the elderly than the age themself. Old people who do regular activities and start new things can actually avoid the common effects of aging. 

Note to self healthy aging= do activites that make you feel younger.  

What does it mean to age healthily?

When looking into this course I imagined this whole aging idea referred mostly to the aspect of aging in terms of psychology, or the mental capacities and behavioral characteristics of aging. After our first day of class my ideas have changed a bit to look more at healthy living, in terms of physical characteristics like building a healthy body. However, I would like to define healthy aging as moving forward in life in a manner which keeps you close to the average bounds of your age range.  Whether this definition refers to psychology or physical traits this can be what defines healthy aging, one whose characteristics fit societal standards for their age group.  Though I would rather keep society out of this who idea.  With this definition I would say something like a 12 year old who is independent, responsible for herself, employed in a full time job, etc. would not be healthily aged.  I am still rather confused and curious as to what may truly be meant by this "healthy aging" thing so next I will do some research and come up with out others define it.