Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Understanding Ageing : Biological And Social Constructions. / Latimer, Joanna Elizabeth; Cox, Lynne; Davis, Terence.
The New Sciences of Ageing. ed. / Alan Walker. Bristol : Polity Press, 2014. p. 25-76.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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TY - CHAP
T1 - Understanding Ageing
T2 - Biological And Social Constructions
AU - Latimer, Joanna Elizabeth
AU - Cox, Lynne
AU - Davis, Terence
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - In this chapter, we discuss how social and biological studies of ageingcan converge to provide a meaningful framework for progress in bothunderstanding ageing and dealing with it in a positive manner. We startby discussing the meaning of the term ‘ageing’ and how it is in partdefined by social context, and then, how psychosocial factors have animpact on both perception and the biological reality of ageing. Froma theoretical perspective, we assess how ageing might have evolved,and how it is measured. The biological impacts of ageing are thendescribed, moving from individual cells through tissues to major organsystems (immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems).What causes individual cells of the body to age is dealt with at botha cellular and molecular level, and we further discuss how studies ofboth extremely long-lived and short-lived humans have contributedsignificantly not only to our understanding of the biological processesof ageing, but also to the possibility of developing therapies to dealwith the problems that cause greatest loss of quality of life in older age.We end by assessing the ethical case for intervening in those biologicalprocesses underpinning the development of those illnesses that soundermine health in later life.
AB - In this chapter, we discuss how social and biological studies of ageingcan converge to provide a meaningful framework for progress in bothunderstanding ageing and dealing with it in a positive manner. We startby discussing the meaning of the term ‘ageing’ and how it is in partdefined by social context, and then, how psychosocial factors have animpact on both perception and the biological reality of ageing. Froma theoretical perspective, we assess how ageing might have evolved,and how it is measured. The biological impacts of ageing are thendescribed, moving from individual cells through tissues to major organsystems (immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems).What causes individual cells of the body to age is dealt with at botha cellular and molecular level, and we further discuss how studies ofboth extremely long-lived and short-lived humans have contributedsignificantly not only to our understanding of the biological processesof ageing, but also to the possibility of developing therapies to dealwith the problems that cause greatest loss of quality of life in older age.We end by assessing the ethical case for intervening in those biologicalprocesses underpinning the development of those illnesses that soundermine health in later life.
M3 - Chapter
SN - 978-1447314677
SP - 25
EP - 76
BT - The New Sciences of Ageing
A2 - Walker, Alan
PB - Polity Press
CY - Bristol
ER -