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. 2018 Oct-Dec;34(4):481-502.
doi: 10.1002/sdr.1611. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Trajectories of functional ability over the life course: a conceptual model of the interaction of stressor-induced functional loss and resilience

David B Matchar  1   2 , John P Ansah  1 , Victoria Koh  1 , Heather E Whitson  2   3
Affiliations

Trajectories of functional ability over the life course: a conceptual model of the interaction of stressor-induced functional loss and resilience

David B Matchar et al. Syst Dyn Rev. 2018 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Understanding the factors that influence functional ability over the life course is integral to identifying clinical and public health policies to facilitate successful aging. The World Health Organization has advocated a conceptual framework to clarify the policy discussion. We have sought to translate this general framework into an explicit system dynamics model of the interaction of physiological loss, stressors and endogenous responses to produce a familiar variety of trajectories of functional ability over the life courses. Simulation experiments were implemented for both a 30-month duration with only one major stressor; and for the life course with an initial major stressor and subsequent stressors determined by the level of functional ability. For both contexts, variations in the few parameters in the scenarios led to a realistic range of trajectories of function over time.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
A stressor-induced functional loss and recovery model
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Short-duration patterns of functional ability
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Life course patterns of functional ability
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Dynamics of function (short duration)
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Dynamics of function (life course)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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