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Erleben des Alternsprozesses in einer Lebensspannenperspektive

Implikationen für die geriatrische Onkologie

Experiencing the aging process from a lifespan perspective

Implications for geriatric oncology

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Zusammenfassung

Älterwerden ist heute zu einer völlig neuen Erfahrung geworden, sowohl in positiver als auch in herausfordernder Hinsicht. Auf der einen Seite haben wir historisch gesehen die funktional und kognitiv leistungsfähigste Kohorte von Älteren vor uns, die zudem völlig neue Ideen dazu besitzt, wie sie ihr Altern gestalten möchte. Auf der anderen Seite wird die Phase der „unhealthy life expectancy“ immer länger und die Korrelation von schweren Erkrankungen wie Krebs mit dem Älterwerden verstärkt sich aufgrund des sehr langen, aber auch zunehmend fragiler werdenden sehr späten Lebens immer mehr. Vor diesem Hintergrund fokussiert dieser Beitrag das subjektive Erleben des eigenen Älterwerdens. Vorgestellt werden Messmethoden zum subjektiven Altern, Ergebnisse zum Verlauf des subjektiven Alterns über die Lebensspanne und im späten Leben sowie zur Bedeutung des subjektiven Alterns für die Voraussage wichtiger gesundheitlicher Endpunkte. Die wenigen Befunde zur Rolle des subjektiven Alternserlebens bei älteren Krebspatient*innen werden zu einigen praktischen Empfehlungen verdichtet.

Abstract

Getting older has become a completely new experience with positive as well as challenging aspects. On the one hand, in historical terms, we are now seeing the functionally and cognitively fittest cohort of older adults ever, who also have totally new ideas about how they wish to age. On the other hand, the phase of “unhealthy life expectancy” is also increasing, and the correlation of major diseases such as cancer with aging is becoming more pronounced, due to the very long but also increasingly fragile very late life. Against this background, this work concentrates on the subjective awareness of aging. Presented are methods for measuring subjective aging, telling findings on the course of subjective aging throughout the lifespan and in old age, and evidence underscoring the role of subjective aging for predicting health outcomes. The rare work addressing subjective aging in older cancer patients also finds consideration, and is used to derive practical implications which might help in clinical practice and post-treatment care.

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Notes

  1. Im Original heißt es: „Chronological age is an initially appealing false lover who tells you everything and nothing“ (S. 17, [1]).

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  1. Netzwerk Alternsforschung, Abteilung für Psychologische Alternsforschung, Psychologisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Bergheimer Str. 20, 69115, Heidelberg, Deutschland

    Hans-Werner Wahl

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H.-W. Wahl gibt an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autoren keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien.

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Wahl, HW. Erleben des Alternsprozesses in einer Lebensspannenperspektive. Forum 36, 238–243 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12312-021-00931-2

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