Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Preparation for Aging pp 105–119Cite as

Healthy Aging

Utopia or a Realistic Target?

  • Chapter

  • 154 Accesses

Abstract

Both health and aging are multidimensional and complex concepts. When they are used in combination the situation becomes even more difficult to study and interpret. The basic biological mechanisms of aging are not yet known and the numerous theories or metatheoretical notions focusing them have appeared to be difficult to test by experimental research. Consequently there are as yet no specific ways of modifying the process of aging. It seems to be increasingly evident that there are multiple causes of aging and that almost all theories of aging may have some relevance (Baker and Martin, 1994).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Baker, C.T.III, and Martin, G.R., 1994, Biologicalaging and longevity: Underlying mechanisms and potential interventioinstrategies, JAPA, 2(4): 304–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezrukov, V., Sachuk, N.N., Pakin, Y.V., andMinaeva, V.P., in press, Socio-Demographic Factors of Health, Adaptation,Quality of Life and in Survivorship (A Longitudinal Study of Kiev AgingResidents), in:“SwinginPendulum.Health Related Quality of Life in Elderly Europeans,” L. Ferrucci, E.W.Waters,E.Hekkinen, and A. Baroni, eds., INCRA/World Health Organization, Florence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birren, J.E., and Birren, B.A., 1990, The Concepts,Models and History of thePsychology of Aging, in: “Handbook ofthe psychology of aging”, J.E. Birren, and K.W. Schaie, eds.,Academic Press, NewYork,pp.3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokovoy, J.L., Blair, S.N., 1994, Aging andexercise: A health perspective, JAPA, 2(3): 243–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brook, R.H., Ware, J.E., Davies-Avery, A., Stewart, A.L., Donald, C.A., Rogers,W.H., Williams, K.N., andJohnston,S.A., 1979, Overview of adult health status measures fielded in rand’s healthinsurancestudy,Med. Care, 17: 1–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchner, D.M., 1992, Effects of physicalactivity on health status in older adults II: Intervention studies, Annu. Rev. Publ.Health, 13:469–488.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bulpitt, C.J., Benos, A.S., Nicholl, C.G., and Fletcher,A.E., 1990, Should medical screening of the elderly population bepromoted, Gerontology, 36: 230–245.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A.J., Diep, C., Reinken, J., McCosh, L., 1985,Factors predicting mortality in a total populatioin sample of theelderly, J. Epidemiol Community Health, 39: 337–342.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, S., 1994, “Bone Mineral Density andQuality in Older People”, Studies in Sport, Physical Educatioin and Health, 34,University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, (doctoral thesis).

    Google Scholar 

  • Era, P., 1987, Sensory, psychomotor, and motorfunctions in men of different ages, Scand. J. Soc. Med., Suppl. 39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiatarone, M.A., Marks, E.C., Ryan, N.D., Meredith,C.N., Lipsitz, L.A., and Evans, W.J., 1990, High intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle, JAMA,263: 3029–3034.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freer, C.B., 1985, Screening the elderly, SMJ,300: 1447–1448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fried, L.P., Herdman, S.J., Kuhn, K.E., Rubin, G., and Turano,K., 1991, Preclinical disability. Hypotheses about the bottomof hte iceberg, Journal of Aging and Health, 3(2): 285–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fries, J., 1980, Aging, naturaldeath, and the compression of morbidity, New Eng. J. Med., 303: 130–135.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fries, J., 1989, The compression of mordidity: near orfar? Millbank Q. 67(2): 208–232.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fylkenes, K., and Førde, O.H., 1991, The Tromsø Study:Predictors of self-evaluated health — has society adopted the expanded healthconcept? Soc. Sci. Med., 32(2): 141–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fylkenes, K., and Førde, O.H.,1992, Determinants and dimensions involved in self-evaluation of health, Soc. Sci. Med., 35(2): 271–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J.A.M., Almind, G.,Freer, C., Warshaw, G., 1985, Screening and Case Finding, in: “PreventionofDisease in the Elderly”, J.A. Muir Gray, ed., Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp. 51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimley Evans, J., 1988, Ageingand Disease, in: “Research and the Ageing Population”, Ciba Foundation Symposium 134, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, pp. 38–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guralnik, J.M., Branch, L.G.,Cummings, S.R., Curb, J.D., 1989, Physical performance measures in aging research, J. Gerontol.,44(5): M141–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guralnick, J.M., and LaCroix,A.Z., 1992, Assessing Physical Function in Older Populations, in: “The Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly”, R.B. Wallace, and R.F. Woolson, eds., Oxford University Press, New York, pp.159–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guralnick, J.M., and Schneider,E.L., 1987, The compression of morbidity: a dream which may come true someday, GerontologicaPerspecta 1: 8–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, S., Suominen, H., Era,P., eds., 1994, “Toward Healthy Aging — International Perspectives,Part 1.Physiological and Biomedical Aspects”, Vol. III, Physical Activity, Aging and Sports, Center for the Study of Aging,Albany, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, E., 1995,Epidemiologic-ecological models of aging, Can. J. Aging. 14(1):82–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, E., 1989, Lifestyles and Life Satisfaction,in: “Health, Lifestyles and Services for the Elderly”, W.E. Waters, E. Heikkinen, and A.S. Dontas, eds., World Health Organization,Publid Health inEurope29, Copenhagen, pp. 39–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, E., Arajärvi, R-L.,Era, P., Jylhä, M., Kinnunen, V., Leskinen, A-L., Mässeli, E., Pohjolainen, P., Rahkila, P., Suominen, H., Turpeinen, P., Väisänen, M., and Österback,L., 1984, Functional capacity of men bora in 1906–1910,1926–30 and 1946–50. Abasie report, Scand. J. Soc. Med., Suppl. 33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, E., Era, P.,Jokela, J., Jylhä, M., Lyyra, A.-L., Pohjolainen, P., 1993, Socioeconomic andLife-StyleFactors as Modulatros of Health and Functional Capacitywith Age, in: “Aging, Health and Competence”, J.J.F. Schroots, ed., Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., The Netherlands, pp. 65–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, E., Heikkinen,R.-L., Kauppinen, M., Laukkanen, P., Ruoppila, I., Suutama, T., eds., 1990, “Iäkkäiden henkilöiden toimintakyky. IKIVIHREÄT-projekti, OsaI”, [“Functional Capacity in the Elderly, Evergreen-project, Part I“] Sosiaali-ja terveysministeriö, Suunnitteluosasto, 1990:1, Helsinki, Englishabstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, E., Suominen, H.,Era, P., Lyyra, A.-L., 1994, Variations in Aging Parameters, Their Sources, and Possibilities of Predicting Physiological Age, in: “PracticalHandbook of Human Biologic Age Determination”,A.K. Baiin, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Ann Arbor, London, Tokyo, pp. 71–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirdes, J.P., and Forbes,W.F., 1993, Factors associated with the maintenance of good self-rated health, Journal of Aging andHealth, 5(1):101–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idler, E.L., and Angel, R.J.,1990, Self-rated health and mortality in the NHANES-I epidemiologic follow-up study, Am. J.Publ. Health, 80: 446–452.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Idler, K., and Kasl, S., 1991,Health perceptions and survival; do global evaluations of health status really predictmortality? J. Gerontol, Social Sciences, 46: 55–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idler, E.L., Kasl., S.V., and Lemke, J.H., 1990, Self-evaluatedhealth and mortality among the elderly in New Haven,Connecticut, and Iowa and Washington counties, Iowa, 1982–1986, Am. J.Epidemiol, 131(1):91–103

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jylhä, M., 1994, PerceivedHealth in Old Age — Two Methodological Approaches, in: Experiencing Ageing — Kokemuksellinen Vanheneminen — Att Uppleva Åldrandet, P. Öberg, P. Pohjolainen, and I. Ruoppila, eds.,Svenska social- och kommunalhögskolan vid Helsingfors universitet, Helsinki,pp. 171–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jylhä, M., Jokela, J.,Tolvanen, E., Heikkinen, E., Heikkinen, R.-L., Koskinen, S., Leskinen, E.,Lyyra, A.-L.,Pohjolainen, P., 1992, The Tampere longitudinal study onageing, Scand. J. Soc. Med., Suppl. 47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jylhä, M., Leskinen, E., Alanen, E., Leskinen, A.-L., andHeikkinen, E., 1986, Self-rated health and associated factors among men of different ages, J. Gerontol, 41(6): 710–717.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kane, R.L., Radosevich, D.M., Vaupel, J.W., 1990, Compression ofmorbidity: issues and irrelevancies, in: “Improvingthe Health of Older People: A World View,” R.L. Kane, J.G. Evans, D. Macfadyen, eds., Oxford UniversityPress, Oxford, pp. 30–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, G.A., Barell, V., andLusky, A., 1988, Subjective state of health and survival in elderly adults, J. Gerontol., Social Sciences, 43:114–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, G.A., Camacho, T., 1983, Perceived health andmortality: A nine-year follow-up of the Human Population Laboratory Cohort, Am.J. Epidemiol., 117: 292–304.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S., 1983, Assessingself-maintenance: Acitivities of daily living, mobility and instrumentalactivities ofdailyliving, J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 31: 721–726.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S., Ford, A.B.,Moskowitz, R.W., Jackson, B.A., and Jaffe, M.W., 1963, Studies of illness inthe aged.The index of ADL: A standardized measure of biologicaland psychological function, JAMA, 185: 914–919.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laukkanen, P., Kauppinen, M.,Era, P., Heikkinen, E., 1993, Factors related to coping with physical and instrumental activities of daily living among people born in 1904–1923,Int. J. Ger. P., 8: 287–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M.P., 1970, Thefunctional assessment of elderly people, J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., XIX:465–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M.P., 1990, Aging and performance of home tasks, Human Factors, 32:527–536.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, J., and Jay, G.M., 1992, Cross-cultural Research on Aging and Health,in: “The Epidemiologic Study of theElderly”, R.B. Wallace, and R.F. Woolson, eds., Oxford UniversityPress, New York, pp.301–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang, J., Whitelaw, A., 1990,Assessing the Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly, in: “TheLegacy ofLongevity. Health and Health Care in Later Life”, S.M. Stahl, ed.. Sage Publications,Newbury Park,pp.35–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manton, K.G., Stallard, E., and Tolley, H.D., 1991,Limits to human life expctancy, Pop. Dev. Rev., 17: 603–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martelin, T., 1994, “Differential mortality atolder ages. Sociodemographic Mortality Differences Among the Finnish Elderly”, Publications ofthe Finnish Demographic Society, 16, (doctoral thesis), Helsinki.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maylath, E., Weyerer, S., andHäfner, H., 1989, Spatial concentration of theincidence of treated psychiatric disorders inMannheim. Acta Psychiatr. Scand., 80: 650–656.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, B.D., 1994,Sociocultural perspectives on aging and physical activity, JAPA, 2(4): 329–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medvedev, Z.A., 1990, An attempt at a rationalclassification of theories of aging, Biological Review, 65: 375–398.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mellström, D., Nilsson, A.,Odén, B., Rundgren, A., and Svanbprg, A., 1982, Mortality among the widowed in Sweden, Scand.J. Soc. Med., 10: 33–41.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, M.G., Thorslund, M.,Nordström, J.-L., 1992, Predictors of mortality for the oldest old. A 4-year follow-up of community based elderly in Sweden, Arch. Grontol.Geriatr., 14: 227–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parkerson, G., Broadhead, W., et al., 1992, Quality of life and functional health ofprimary care patient, J. Clin. Epidemiol. 45:1303–1313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Passuth, P.M., Bengtson, V.L.,1988, Sociological Theories of Aging: Current Perspectives and Future Directions, in: “Emergent Theories of Aging”, J.E.Birren, and V.L. Bengtson, eds., Springer Publishing Company, New York, pp.333–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathy, M.S.J., Bayer, A.,Harding, K., and Dibble, A., 1992, Randomised trial of case finding andsurveillanceofelderly people at home, Lancet, 340: 890–893.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pedich, W., and Bien, B., in press, Quality of Lifeof the Elderly During the Economic and Political Transformationin Poland, in: “Swingin Pendulum. HealthRelated Quality of Life in Elderly Europeans, ”L. Ferrucci, E.W. Waters, E. Hekkinen, and A. Baroni,eds., INCRA/World Health Organization, Florence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pijls, L.T.J., Feskens, E.J.M.,and Kronhout, D., 1993, Self-rated health, mortality, and chronic diseases in elderly men. The Zutphen Study, 1985–1990, Am. J. Epidemiol, 138(10):840–848.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K.R., 1965, “Conjecturesand Refutations”, 2nd edition, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, p.46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robine,J.-M., Mathers, C., and Brouard, N., in press, Trens and Differentials inDisability-Free LifeExpectancy, in: Congress Proceedings of the Congresson “Health and Mortality Trends Among elderly Populations: Determinants and Implications,” City of Sendai, Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robine, J-M., Michel, J-P.,and Branch, L.G., 1992, Measurement and utilization of healthy life expectancy. conceptual issues, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 70:791–800.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, G., 1992, “TheStrategy of Preventive Medicine”, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, L.,1994, Har begreppet stress något gemensamt med “onda ögat”, in: “Kampen för folkhälsan,” G.Carlsson,and O. Arvidsson,eds.,Naturoch Kultur, Borås

    Google Scholar 

  • Schipper, H., Clinch, J., and Powell, V., 1990,Definitions and Conceptual Issues, in: Quality of Life Assessments in Clinical Trials”, B. Spilker, ed., Raven Press, New York, pp.11–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spirduso, W.W., 1994, Physical activity and aging:Retrospections and visions for the future, JAPA, 2(3): 233–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuck, A.E., Siu, A.L., Wieland, G.D., Adams, J., Rubenstein,L.Z., 1993, Comprehensive geriatric assessment: a meta-analysis of controlled trials,Lancet, 342: 1032–1033.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Svanborg, A., 1988, The Healthof the Elderly Population: Results from Longitudinal Studies with Age-Cohort Compariso, in: “Research and the Ageing Population”, CibaFoundation Symposium 134, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, pp 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twaddle, A.C., 1974, The concept of health status, Soc.Sci.Med.,8:29–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Rossum, E., Frederiks, C.M.a., Philipsen, H., Portengen, K., Wiskerke, J., Knipschild, P., 1993, Effects of preventive homevisits to elderly people, BMJ, 307: 27–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verbrugge, L.M., 1990, TheIceberg of Disability, in: “The Legacy of Longevity”, M. Stahl, ed.. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, pp.55–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verbrugge, L.M., Lepkowski,J.M., and Imanaka, Y., 1989, Comorbidity and its impact on disability, Millbank Q., 67(3–4): 450–484.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verhasselt, Y., 1993,Geography of health: some trends and perspectives, Soc. Sci. Med. 36(2): 119–123.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, R.B., 1992, Aging and Disease: From Laboratoryto Community, in: “The Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly”, R.B. Wallace, and R.F.Woolson, eds., Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, E.H., and Larson, E.B., 1992, Effects ofphysical activity on health status in older adults I: Observationalstudies, Annu. Rev. Publ. Health, 13: 451–468.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Welin, L., Tibblin, G.,Svärdsudd, K., et al., 1985, Prospective study of social influences onmortality, Lancet,i:915–918.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, T.F., 1990,Geriatrics: A Perspective on Quality of Life and Care for Older People, in: “QualityofLife Assessment in Clinical Trials”, B.. Spilker, ed., Raven Press, New York, pp. 217–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization,1980, “International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities andHandicaps”,Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FIN-40351, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Eino Heikkinen

Authors
  1. Eino Heikkinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Eino Heikkinen , Jorma Kuusinen  & Isto Ruoppila ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Heikkinen, E. (1995). Healthy Aging. In: Heikkinen, E., Kuusinen, J., Ruoppila, I. (eds) Preparation for Aging. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1979-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1979-9_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5815-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1979-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation