Programmed theories of aging

1. Programmed Theories of Aging
Karisma Amjad
PhD Fellow
Institute of Social Welfare and Research
University of Dhaka
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2. Programmed Theories of Aging
Programmed theories assert that the human body is
designed to age and there is a certain biological
timeline that bodies follow.
All of these theories share the idea that aging is natural
and "programmed" into the body.
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3. Aging Is Programmed
Since aging is about evolution and not biology, it
must be inherent in the organism and not simply
a result of environmental factors or disease. That
means that aging and death, according to this
theory, are not a result of wear and tear or
exposure, but are a programmed, natural and
necessary part of genetics. In short, we are
genetically programmed to age and die.
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4. There are a few different programmed theories
of aging:
• Programmed longevity theory
• Endocrine theory
• Immunological theory
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5. Programmed longevity theory
• Programmed longevity theory is the idea that aging
is caused by certain genes switching on and off over
time
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6. Endocrine theory
• Endocrine theory is the idea that regular changes
in hormones control aging.
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7. Role of Endocrine System
• Your body's endocrine system secretes and
controls the hormones that regulate many body
processes including metabolism, use of
nutrients, excretion, and reproduction. As you
age, these systems become less efficient, leading
to changes in our bodies, such as menopause.
The hormone theory of aging states that these
changes eventually cause the effects of aging.
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8. Immunological theory
• Immunological theory states that the immune
system is programmed to decline over time,
leaving people more susceptible to diseases.
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9. Basics of the Immunological Theory
• As humans age, they experience changes to almost
all physiological functions, including those related to
the immune system. Medical experts have proven
that immune function does indeed decrease with
age, which contributes to a whole host of well-
known issues among seniors, from increased health
risks posed by common infections like a cold or the
flu to a greater occurrence of chronic inflammatory
diseases, such as gout and some types of arthritis.
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