Aging

List of Contributors

Foreword

Preface


1 Overview on Aging: Some Biomedical, Social, and Behavioral Perspectives

Stability and Change in the Family

The Elderly of the Future

Biology and Behavior of the Elderly

References

I Longevity, Aging, and Mortality


2 Longevity in Primates

Length of Life in Primates

Human Evolution: The Last Four Million Years

References


3 Life-Span Extension

Defining Life-Span

Distribution of Aging

Biology of General Health Maintenance: A Unique Role for Biological Gerontology

Biological Nature of Aging

Genetic Complexity of General Health Maintenance

Summary and Conclusions

References


4 Environment and Biology in Aging: Some Epidemiological Notions

Differentiation of Levels of Organization

Separation of History and the Life-Cycle

Maternal Age and Trisomy

Spontaneous Abortion and Aging

References


5 Some Economic Implications of Life-Span Extension

Per Capita Output and Economic Welfare Assuming a Fixed Stock of Capital

Capital Stock, Capital Intensity, and Output per Worker

The Skill Composition of the Labor Force

The Social Security System and other Economic Institutions

References


6 Old Age in Tzintzuntzan, Mexico

Tzintzuntzan, Michoacân, Mexico

The View of Old Age in Tzintzuntzan

Life for the Aged

To Be Old in Tzintzuntzan: The Pros and Cons

References

II Aging Brain and Behavior


7 The Neurobiological Basis of Age-Related Changes in Neuronal Connectivity

Changes in the Number of Synapses

Changes in the Organization of the Brain

Changes in the Microenvironment of Neurons

Changes in the Metabolism of Neurons

References


8 Experience and the Changing Brain

Experience and Selective Preservation in Early Development

Experience and Plasticity in the Adult Brain

Changes in the Aging Brain and Behavior

Conceptual Views of Losses in Synaptic Connectivity

Experience and the Aging Brain

References


9 Aging and Brain Plasticity

Theories of Aging and Their Application to the Central Nervous System

Approaching the Problem of Brain Aging

Age-Related Changes in Hippocampal Physiology and Function

Anatomical Plasticity in the Hippocampus: Changes over the Life-Span and Some Possible Regulatory Factors

Summary and Conclusions

References

III Cognitive and Social Functioning


10 Cognitive Functioning in the Elderly: Influence of Physical Health

Research Designs

Patterns of Cognitive Functioning

Health Status and Cognitive Functioning

Cardiovascular Disease and Cognitive Functioning

Cognitive Functioning and Survivorship

Conclusions

References


11 Old Age: An Artifact

The Elderly and Perceived Control

Mindlessness

Negative Consequences for the Elderly

Implications of Mindlessness for the Elderly

Conclusions

References


12 The Function of Denial in Stress, Coping, and Aging

The Sustaining Function of Illusions

Denial, Illusion, and Other Related Processes

Research of Denial-Like Processes

Summary of the Adaptational Costs and Benefits of Denial-Like Processes

References

IV Health


13 Life Changes and Disease in Elderly Populations: Coping with Change

Life Changes and Disease

Social Relationships and Health

Conclusions and Recommendations

References


14 Social Stress and Mental Disorders in the Elderly

Defining the Dependent Variable

Defining the Independent Variable

Study Design

Transduction

Prevention

Conclusion

References


15 Some Psychosocial Influences on the Health Status of the Elderly: The Perspective of Social Epidemiology

Choosing Indicators of Health Status

The Changing Risk Factor Picture with Age

The Impact of Selected Social Experiences on the Health of the Elderly

Medical Care Behavior of the Elderly

Conclusion

References

Appendix A Biology and Behavior of the Elderly, June 22-24, 1979, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Appendix B Reviewers

Author Index

Subject Index