UNIT 3: THEORIES OF AGING

Aging is the process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environmentally modulated. There are several theories that try to explain this process.

The biological theories of aging attempt to explain why the physical changes occur. On the other hand, the psychosocial theories try to explain why older adults have different responses to the aging process. I am going to focus this post on one of the biological theories, called the Free Radical Theory.

This theory provides an explanation for cell damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules produced by the body during the normal metabolism or exposure to radiation and pollution. Excessive accumulation of free radicals is suspected to cause damage to the cells, DNA and the immune system, contributing to the physiological changes of the aging and a variety of diseases. Individuals who support this theory propose that the number of free radicals could be reduced by the use of antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E. 

An example of this is Hiromi Shinya, a Japanese doctor who wrote “The Enzyme Factor”.  In this book he indicates that there is a mother enzyme that determines the duration of our lives and has the ability to become any type of specific enzyme in response to a particular need of the organism. Therefore, health depends on our capacity to keep the mother enzymes of the body. One of the steps is to avoid free radicals, since they consume the enzymes. However, our life style is full of elements that generate them: stress, pollution of the air, electromagnetic waves, viral or bacterial infections, and exposure to radiation. In addition, drinking, smoking, eating foods with additives, rusty food and drugs also originate harmful free radicals, which increase the chances of contracting diseases. To save the enzymes it is necessary to create an intestinal environment that produces "good" bacteria which produce antioxidant enzymes. 

Bibliography

• Hiromi Shinya. La enzima prodigiosa. 1ª Edición: Aguilar; 2013.