Kirjahaku

A brief but engaging look at getting older.In Age, biogerontologist Suresh Rattan delves into the fascinating biology and philosophy of aging. Beginning with an exploration of the chemical origins and fundamental characteristics of life, Rattan then explains how gerontologists interpret human life as a continuum divided into four "ages." Our age flows forward and backward depending on how we feel, how we behave, and how we perceive ourselves. How we approach our age and the age of others often determines our physical, mental, and social health as well as how we treat others. Thanks to evolution, our bodies maintain a homeodynamic space that repairs our bodies until about the age of 45, at which point this space begins to shrink. Through his research, Rattan was inspired to create a formula for eternal life: perfect genes, a healthy environment, and good fortune. Unfortunately, these three ingredients are impossible to achieve, and Rattan urges us to accept our aging bodies and mortality with grace. After all, aging happens to all of us.In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.

1955. Det er det tal, Suresh Rattan kan lAese pa sin fodselsattest. I den alder banker forfaldet pa hos enhver, men han foler sig ikke sa gammel. Faktisk har han det som en tyve ar yngre varhare, og han ved godt hvorfor, men han er jo ogsa aldersforsker ved Aarhus Universitet. Takket vAere evolutionen kan vi ikke forestille os selv Aeldre end 45, og biologisk set burde vi bare opgive anden, nar vi har opdraget et par tro kopier af os selv. Til alle os, der gerne vil leve lidt lAengere, har Suresh opfundet formlen for evigt liv. Lad os habe, den virker.

Suresh Rattan’s birth certificate reads “1955”. At his age, signs of decline inevitably creep in, but Suresh doesn’t feel that old. In fact, he feels twenty years younger. He can even explain why. No wonder: He does research on age and ageing at Aarhus University. Thanks to evolution, we can’t imagine ourselves any older than 45. Biologically, we should just give up the ghost once we’ve raised a few carbon copies of ourselves. But for those of us who want to stick around a little longer, Suresh has devised a formula for eternal life. Let’s hope it works.

The ambition of ageing science to discover the golden fleece of longevity and health is closely connected to the concept of 'successful ageing'. Still, for a large portion of the population, frailty and cognitive impairment is the reality of ageing, and it is by no means certain if health promotion, prevention and other interventions will reduce the probability of its occurrence. This book argues that a narrow understanding of 'successful ageing' as good health, full functioning, and active participation in society excludes a large portion of ageing individuals from the quest for a good life in old age. The challenge is that the term 'successful ageing' comes with ambitions but also with ambivalence. On the one hand, it counteracts the deficit view of ageing and facilitates visionary thinking on what might be possible in the future. On the other hand, its implicitly ageist and derogative features have negative consequences to older people and society at large. So, what is successful ageing? We provide answers at three levels: First, we synthesise the various models used to define successful ageing into a heuristic scheme able to unravel the normative complexity and differences inherent in existing models. Second, we anchor successful ageing models in a tripartite way at micro (individual), meso, and macro analytic levels of human development. Third, we argue that the usefulness of successful ageing in guiding policy will only profit from the concept, if it follows a pluralistic and holistic view without hastily deciding for one model only.