Human Longevity and Life Span
Roger B. McDonald in Biology of Aging, 2019
This chapter begins with an exploration of the origins of human longevity and discusses the theoretical basis for the longevity that Homo sapiens . It focuses on human longevity and life span and examines studies of centenarians in which chromosomal locations associated with extreme longevity are being identified. The chapter presents some historical and observations that test the theoretical basis for the origins of human longevity and life span. It explores the origins of human longevity and its impact on life span through the science of biodemography. The chapter deals with a few general biodemographic principles that guide the development of models predicting the origins of human longevity. It explains the reasons for the unprecedented rise in human life span during the twentieth century. The chapter looks at life spans in historical societies, and describes the rise of modern biological inquiry and how this led to the mortality rates and extended life spans observed in the developed countries.
Mitochondrial Fission Protects against Oxidative Stress by Minting a Continuous Supply of Cardiolipin and Other Polyunsaturated Phospholipids
Raymond C. Valentine, David L. Valentine in Human Longevity, 2015
Mitochondria in liver cells of a centenarian are estimated to have divided by ssion (Figure 17.1) as many as 3600 times. It is clear that division acts to rejuvenate wornout parts of mitochondria that might otherwise decrease both energy output and ef- ciency. In Chapter 12 we discussed how specialized membranes of rhodopsin disks senesce on a timescale of days, and how tails of sperm cells, when exposed to ambient O2 in the test tube, are degraded on a scale of hours. Data on mitochondria show that the functional life span of a single liver mitochondrion, measured as the time between divisions, is as short as ten days-roughly equivalent to the turnover time of a rhodopsin membrane disk in a rod cell of the eye. We suggest that the human inner mitochondrial membrane is another example of such a specialized membrane based on its extraordinarily high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the presence of cardiolipin molecular species with four 18:2 chains, and its rapid turnover. We also propose that the relatively rapid rates of mitochondrial division evolved in part as a mechanism for rejuvenating the vast and oxidatively vulnerable inner membrane, thus avoiding effects from accumulation of oxidatively damaged cardiolipin and other phospholipids. Even though the energy cost of ssion is high, the benets are great and include the continuous production of virgin membrane surface, which avoids an oxidative chain reaction. The benets and risks of mitochondrial ssion are so powerful as to impact longevity.
Slow death
Lesley Cullen, Michael Young in A Good Death, 1996
The greatest triumph of the century is to have added twenty-five years to the average expectation of life or, to put it another way, subtracted twenty-five years from the expectation of death. There are more people still alive in their seventies and eighties-the number of people in the UK at 80 and over nearly trebled between 1951 and 1988, from 0.7 to 2.0 million, and even centenarians have multiplied.1 This caps all that was done previously to extend life. But there has also been an increase in the numbers of people with a disabling or chronic disease2 or a terminal, though lingering illness, whose lives have been prolonged by medical science. The dramatic postponement of death for the generality means more people who, because of their frailty, can hardly avoid thinking about the prospect of their own death. More people are around who can give an account of how they, and their carers, face death.
Clinical observation on hearing conditions of centenarians in northern district of China
Published in Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 2015
Chen-qing Liu, Xiao-ting Cheng, Yu-hua Zhu, Wei-dong Shen, Bo-wen Bian, Ju-yang Cao, Suo-qiang Zhai, Chuan-xin Chen, Shi-ming Yang, Hui-jun Yuan, Ning Yu
Conclusion: The hearing conditions of the centenarians were quite poor as regards hearing thresholds and speech detection ability. Objective: To investigate hearing conditions of centenarians. Methods: A total of 54 centenarians in Rizhao and Linyi Districts in Shandong Province were investigated to assess hearing conditions of centenerians comprehensively by questionnaire investigation, pure-tone audiometry, acoustic immitance, intelligence evaluation, and speech detection scores. Also, 135 individuals were recruited as controls and divided into four groups according to their age: 45–59 years, 60–69 years, 70–79 years, and 80–89 years. Results: The hearing thresholds of the centenarians were dramatically higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05) and all centenarians suffered moderate to profound hearing loss according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Few centenarians had normal level of speech detection scores. All centenarians showed descending hearing curve, and the hearing threshold of the male centenarians at 8000 Hz was higher than that of the females (p = 0.047). There was a significant air–bone conduction gap in the centenarians (p < 0.05).
Health Status, Living Arrangements, and Service Use at 100: Findings From the Oporto Centenarian Study
Published in Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 2016
Oscar Ribeiro, Lia Araújo, Laetitia Teixeira, Natália Duarte, Daniela Brandão, Ignacio Martin, Constança Paúl
This paper describes the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and service use of centenarians living in the community and centenarians residing in an elder care facility/nursing home and examines their main differences. Participants were 140 centenarians from the population-based Oporto Centenarian Study (Mage = 101.2; SD = 1.6). Main findings revealed that the majority of the centenarians lived at home with their family members (57.9%). Increased health care needs, living alone, and family caregiving constraints were the most common reasons for entering a nursing home. Community-dwelling centenarians were cared for mostly by their children and were less dependent and in better cognitive health than those who resided in a nursing home. Differences were found in the pattern of health service use according to the centenarians’ residence, ability to pay medical expenses, and dependency level. Findings highlight the need for an accurate assessment of caregiving support systems, particularly family intergenerational duties, and of the factors constraining the access and use of health and social services. Policy makers may be guided by the insights gained from this research and work toward improvement of support options and removal of barriers to service access.
The process of (non) ageing in the perception of Polish centenarians
Published in Educational Gerontology, 2017
Jolanta Mackowicz, Joanna Wnek-Gozdek
Currently, there are over 120,000 people aged 100 years or more in Europe. In Poland, there are 4,000 centenarians. And although demographic forecasts say that the number of people above 100 years of age will be on the rise in the decades to come, each centenarian is a unique case that should be the focus of interest for medical and social researchers. In this article, we are going to present the results of qualitative research carried out among people aged 100 or older and show their perception of their own old age in the context of their individual life stories. The results prove that despite individual differences, experience, and functional limitations, the respondents are very open to other people and take the passage of time and their developing age with a pinch of salt. The most important aspects of life for the respondents are positive social relations in their closest environment, deep and authentic faith, and an optimistic attitude. All of the centenarians tried to be physically active, and those who were bedridden remained intellectually active (reading, prayers, conversations). They were at peace with the ailments and difficulties associated with old age and treated them as something natural.
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