The fountain of mental youth. Search for homeostatic and adaptational hormonal processes.
Successful mental aging may be defined as maintenance of youthful attitudes, cognitive and adaptational processes despite advanced age. Maintenance of homeostasis and efficient adaptational processes are of utmost importance. It is suggested that multiple hormonal systems and processes are involved in the multidimensional, interdependent, interrelated successful aging process. Changes in their interactions over time probably occur. A complex integrated regulatory homeostatic and normalcy system is proposed. Disruption on this regulating normalization process may cause disorders, as well as accelerated mental aging. Currently not much is known about maintenance of mental normalcy, as well as homeostatic and adaptational underlying mechanisms. Their elucidation would substantially contribute to understanding of well-being, disorders, and successful as well as unsuccessful aging.
Halbreich
Uriel
U
School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Biobehavioral Program, SUNY at Buffalo, 14214-3016, USA. urielh@acsu.buffalo.edu
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*