The topic discussed in this paper is Physical Health and Aging. Before initiating with the main subject matter of the topic, I would like to define Aging and its process.
Aging is a fundamental biological process that can be defined, measured, described, and manipulated. On the one hand, it is deeply rooted in the genetic makeup and metabolic workings of the organism in toto and it’s every cell. On the other hand, it is sensitive to many environmental influences that exert their effects through modulating events. So overwhelming are the transformations of the aging body and so pervasive are the changes in its basic functions that it may not be particularly surprising that the most famous of the ancient servants of Aesculapius did not find the brain and higher cognitive functions sufficiently important to be included in his list of geriatric troubles. Luckily, during the 20th century, and especially in the past 3 decades, this neglect has been more than adequately compensated through the efforts of many neuroscientists. The results of their labors have been periodically surveyed and summarized leaving an impressive body of scholarly reviews (Baltes, 1996).
Few of such reviews includes the one that I have used for this paper to help me understand and comprehend the process of aging in a better way. The literature review used for this paper is “Why do we age? Aging is not a disease; it's a process intrinsic to every living organism.” By Nancy Shute.
Theory of Aging
“…Damage theories are based on the assumption that aging is the result of accumulated errors from such sources as free radicals........
