Theories of Aging

Basic Geriatric Nursing, 7th edition
Chapter 02 Student Handout
Slide 1 ___________________________________
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Chapter 2
Theories of Aging
Basic Geriatric Nursing, 7th edition ___________________________________

Patricia Williams
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Copyright © 2020 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Slide 2 Lesson 2.1 Theories of Aging ___________________________________

Objectives
1. Discuss how a theory is different from a fact.
2. Describe the most common biologic theories ___________________________________
of aging.
3. Describe the most common psychosocial
4.
theories of aging.
Discuss the relevance of these theories to
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nursing practice.
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Slide 3 ___________________________________
Theory vs. Fact
 Facts
➢ Observations ___________________________________
➢ Humans age and die like all living organisms
➢ Current maximal life expectancy = 122 years
Theory

➢ Give logical order to observations ___________________________________
➢ Biologic theories, psychosocial theories
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1
Slide 4 ___________________________________
Biologic Theories
 Explain the physical changes of aging

 Attempt to describe the process by examining ___________________________________
changes in cell structures and function
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Slide 5 ___________________________________
Programmed Theory
 Proposes that every person has a biological

timeline to follow ___________________________________
 In this theory, each individual has a genetic
“program” specifying an unknown but
predetermined number of cell divisions.
 As the program plays out, the person ___________________________________
experiences predictable changes, such as
atrophy of the thymus, menopause, skin
changes, and graying of the hair.
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Slide 6 ___________________________________
Run-Out-of-Program Theory
 Proposes that every person has a limited

amount of genetic material that will run out ___________________________________
over time
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Slide 7 ___________________________________
Rate of Living Theory
 Proposes that individuals have a finite

number of breaths or heartbeats that are ___________________________________
used up over time
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Slide 8 ___________________________________
Gene Theory
 Proposes the existence of one or more

harmful genes that activate over time, ___________________________________
resulting in the typical changes seen with
aging and limiting the life span of the
individual
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Slide 9 ___________________________________
Error Theory
 Proposes that aging is caused by

environmental damage that accumulates over ___________________________________
time
 Errors in ribonucleic acid protein synthesis
cause errors to occur in cells in the body
which leads to progressive decline in biologic ___________________________________
function
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3
Slide 10 ___________________________________
Somatic Mutation Theory
 Proposes that aging results from

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage caused ___________________________________
by exposure to chemicals or radiation, and
this damage causes chromosomal
abnormalities that lead to disease or loss of
function later in life ___________________________________
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Slide 11 ___________________________________
Free Radical Theory
 Free radicals: unstable molecules produced

by the body during the normal processes of ___________________________________
respiration and metabolism
 Suspected to cause cell damage and
contribute to physiologic changes of aging
and a variety of diseases ___________________________________
 Antioxidants are thought to reduce the
number of free radicals
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Slide 12 Audience Response System ___________________________________

Question 1
 Free radicals are unstable molecules
produced by the body during the normal ___________________________________
processes of respiration and metabolism or
after exposure to radiation and pollution.
A. True
B. False ___________________________________
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Question 1 Answer
 A: True
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Slide 14 ___________________________________
Crosslink or Connective Tissue Theory
 Proposes that cell molecules from DNA and

connective tissue interact with free radicals to ___________________________________
cause bonds that decrease the ability of
tissue to replace itself
 This results in skin changes typically
attributed to aging, such as dryness, wrinkles, ___________________________________
and loss of elasticity.
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Slide 15 ___________________________________
Clinker Theory
 Combines the somatic mutation, free radical,

and crosslink theories ___________________________________
 Suggests that chemicals produced by
metabolism accumulate in normal cells and
cause damage to body organs, such as the
muscles, heart, nerves, and brain ___________________________________
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Slide 16 ___________________________________
Wear-and-Tear Theory
 Presumes that the body is similar to a machine,

which loses function when its parts wear out ___________________________________
 As people age, their cells, tissues, and organs
are damaged by internal or external stressors.
 When enough damage occurs to the body’s
parts, overall functioning decreases. ___________________________________
 Good health maintenance practices will reduce
the rate of wear and tear, resulting in longer and
better body function.
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Slide 17 Reliability Theory of Aging and ___________________________________

Longevity
 Mathematical model of system failures
 Used to describe degradation (disease) and ___________________________________
failure (death) of human body systems
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Slide 18 ___________________________________
Neuroendocrine Theory
 Focuses on the complicated chemical

interactions set off by the hypothalamus of the
brain
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 With age, the hypothalamus appears to be less
precise in regulating endocrine function, leading
to age-related changes, such as decreased
muscle mass, increased body fat, and changes in ___________________________________
reproductive function.
 It is proposed that hormone supplements may be
designed to delay or control age-related
changes.
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Slide 19 ___________________________________
Immunologic Theory
 Proposes that aging is a function of changes

in the immune system ___________________________________
 The immune system weakens over time,
making an aging person more susceptible to
disease.
 It also proposes that the increase in ___________________________________
autoimmune diseases and allergies seen with
aging is caused by changes in the immune
system.
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Slide 20 ___________________________________
Psychosocial Theories
 Do not explain physical changes of aging

 Attempt to explain why older adults have ___________________________________
different response to aging
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Slide 21 ___________________________________
Disengagement Theory
 Controversial
 Proposes that older people are systematically ___________________________________
separated, excluded, or disengaged from
society because they are not perceived to be
of benefit to society as a whole.
 This theory further proposes that older adults ___________________________________
desire to withdraw from society as they age,
so the disengagement is mutually beneficial
and involves setting goals consistent with the
individual’s personality. ___________________________________
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7
Slide 22 ___________________________________
Activity Theory
 Proposes that activity is necessary for

successful aging ___________________________________
 Active participation in physical and mental
activities helps maintain functioning well into
old age.
 Purposeful activities and interactions that ___________________________________
promote self-esteem improve overall
satisfaction with life, even at an older age.
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Slide 23 ___________________________________
Life-Course Theories
 Trace personality and personal adjustment

throughout a person’s life ___________________________________
 Specific in identifying life-oriented tasks for
the aging person
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Slide 24 ___________________________________
Erikson’s Theory
 Eight stages of developmental tasks

throughout the life span ___________________________________
➢ Trust versus mistrust
➢ Autonomy versus shame and doubt
➢ Initiative versus guilt
➢ Industry versus inferiority ___________________________________
➢ Identity versus identity confusion
➢ Intimacy versus isolation
➢ Generativity versus stagnation
➢ Integrity versus despair ___________________________________
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Slide 25 ___________________________________
Havighurst’s Theory
 Details the process of aging and defines

specific tasks for late life ___________________________________
➢ Adjusting to decreased physical strength and
health
➢ Adjusting to retirement and decreased income
➢ Adjusting to the loss of a spouse ___________________________________
➢ Establishing a relationship with one’s age group
➢ Adapting to social roles in a flexible way
➢ Establishing satisfactory living arrangements
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Slide 26 ___________________________________
Newman’s Theory
 Identifies the tasks of aging as

➢ Coping with the physical changes of aging ___________________________________
➢ Redirecting energy to new activities and roles,
including retirement, grandparenting, and
widowhood
➢ Accepting one’s own life ___________________________________
➢ Developing a point of view about death
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Slide 27 ___________________________________
Jung’s Theory
 Proposes that development continues

throughout life by a process of searching, ___________________________________
questioning, and setting goals that are
consistent with the individual’s personality
 Thus, life becomes an ongoing search for the
“true self” ___________________________________
 Begin to question whether the decisions and
choices they have made were the right
choices for them
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9

Question 2
 The life course theory that identifies eight
stages of developmental tasks an individual ___________________________________
must confront throughout the life span is
A. Erikson’s theory.
B. Havighurst’s theory.
C. Newman’s theory. ___________________________________
D. Jung’s theory.
E. none of the above.
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Question 2
 A: Erikson’s Theory
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Slide 30 ___________________________________
Implications for Nursing
 Nursing can help individuals achieve the

longest, healthiest lives possible by ___________________________________
promoting good health maintenance practices
and a healthy environment.
 Understanding theories can help nurses
recognize problems and provide nursing ___________________________________
interventions to help aging individuals meet
the developmental tasks of aging.
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Basic Geriatric Nursing, 7th edition

Chapter 02 Student Handout

Basic Geriatric Nursing, 7th edition ___________________________________

Slide 2 Lesson 2.1 Theories of Aging ___________________________________

 Explain the physical changes of aging

 Proposes that every person has a biological

 Proposes that every person has a limited

 Proposes that individuals have a finite

 Proposes the existence of one or more

 Proposes that aging is caused by

 Proposes that aging results from

 Free radicals: unstable molecules produced

Slide 12 Audience Response System ___________________________________

Slide 13 Audience Response System ___________________________________

 Proposes that cell molecules from DNA and

 Combines the somatic mutation, free radical,

 Presumes that the body is similar to a machine,

Slide 17 Reliability Theory of Aging and ___________________________________

 Focuses on the complicated chemical

 Proposes that aging is a function of changes

 Do not explain physical changes of aging

 Proposes that activity is necessary for

 Trace personality and personal adjustment

 Eight stages of developmental tasks

 Details the process of aging and defines

 Identifies the tasks of aging as

 Proposes that development continues

Slide 28 Audience Response System ___________________________________

Slide 29 Audience Response System ___________________________________

 Nursing can help individuals achieve the

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