Swedish sociologist Lars Tornstam proposed a theory of gerotranscendence, the notion that with age comes a radically different life outlook reflecting a cosmological shift in perception. Tornstam argued that when activity aging theory eclipsed disengagement theory something of vital importance was lost. Disengagement theorists highlighted an inward reflective tendency emerging in later life that denoted a change in how older people saw the world and their places within it. The problem, said Tornstam, was that these older individuals had limited resources for cultivating the new perspective that was emerging in their lives. (more…)

Social cognitions involve thoughts about others and thoughts about the self in relationship to others. When we consider cognitive aging theory from this point of view, it leads us away from traditional research methods and theoretical perspectives that have focused on basic information processing and how it is tied to physiological decline. This body of research has been largely experimental and often has taken place in situations designed to remove the effects of the social context. In contrast, research on social cognition and aging typically is designed to consider how social context affects the thinking of adults. (more…)

The accumulative waste theory of aging, also known as the waste accumulation or garbage accumulation theory of aging, proposes that molecules damaged by oxidation and their by products (e.g., aged collagen, damaged enzymes), and damaged mitochondria (organelles responsible for cellular energy production) accumulate in postmitotic (non dividing cells) causing dysfunction, toxicity, aging, and cell death (see Error Catastrophe Theory of Aging).

There are several mechanisms by which garbage accumulation affects cells. (more…)

Aging theories cover the biochemical, genetic, and physiological properties of a typical organism, and the way these properties change with time. Genetic theories deal with speculations regarding the identity of aging genes, accumulation of errors in the genetic machinery, programmed senescence, and telomeres. Biochemical theories are concerned with energy metabolism, generation of free (more…)

Aging theories cover the physiological, genetic, biochemical properties of a typical organism, and the way these properties change with time. Theories of genetic dealing with the identity of aging obesity genes, accumulation of errors in the genetic machinery, programmed senescence, and telomeres theory. Biochemical theories are concerned with generation of free radicals, the rate of living, energy metabolism, and the health of mitochondria. While Theory of Physiological deal most entirely with the endocrine system and the purpose of hormones in governing the rate of cellular aging. (more…)