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