2. Definition
• Ageing is gradual structural changes that occur with the passage of
time, that are not due to diseases or accidents but eventually leading
to death.
• It is a result of combination of natural, largely genetically
programmed changes occurring in all body systems.
• It is the organic process of growing older and showing the effect of
increasing age or scnescence.
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3. Age
• Age is the time of life.
• It is the lifespan of an organism from the TIME of its inception to its
destruction.
• It is the period in which a person is able to do something.
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4. 30-08-2022 4
SL# Parameters Duration
1 Prenatal period
Ovum - 0 to 14 days
Embryo - 2 weeks to 9 weeks
Fetus - 9th week to birth
2 Premature infant 28 to 37 weeks
3 Full term 280 days (avg)
4 Infancy(up to 1yr)
Neonatal period – first 28 days
Postnatal period – 28th day to 1 year
5 Pre school age 1 to 4 years
6 School age 5 to 14 years
7 Teenage 14 to 18 years
8 Young Adult 19 to 25 years
9 Old adult 26 to 40 years
10 Middle age 40 to 60 years
Periods of growth
5. Old Age
• Young old : 60 to 74 years
• Old : 75 to 84 years
• Oldest old : 85+ years
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6. Indian demographic statistics:
Total population - 1.25 Bn
0-14 years - 31.2%
15-64 years - 63.6%
64 years & above - 5.3%
Population growth rate - 1.2% Annual
Birth rate – 20.22 per 1000 people
Life expectancy – 68.89 years
Males 67.46 years
Females 72.61 years
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7. Causes of aging
• Damage based theories:
Orgel’s hypothesis
Energy metabolism and aging
Free radical theory of aging
• Gene based theories:
Hayflick limit
Telomeres shortening
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8. Health problems of aged
1. Problems due to the aging process.
2. Problems associated with long term illness.
3. Psychological problems.
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9. Long term illness
1. Degenerative diseases of heart and blood vessels
2. Cancer
3. Accidents
4. Diabetes
5. Locomotory disorders
6. Respiratory illness
7. Genitourinary system
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