How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional Ability?
• Decline in cellular function and accumulation of waste that manifests at the physiological level • Introduction of age related changes such as: osteoarthritis, chondromalacia, greying of hair, reduced elasticity of skin, rigidity of the arteries, decline in kidney function, opacification of the lens of the eye and decline in oxygen uptake and delivery of oxygen throughout the body • Most changes in physiological function are all losses with a median slope of 0.5% decline per year of the initial value at age 30 years (Yates, 2002)
