Exhibition: "Aging For All Ages"
It's never too late (or too early) to age well!
Designed and built by Reuben H. Fleet Science Center staff, "Aging for All Ages" is a permanent exhibition designed for... well, all ages!
“Aging for All Ages” explores the aging process with interactive exhibits and demonstrations on how health and lifestyle choices contribute to wellness. The exhibition consists of three sections organized around themes of “Body,” “Mind” and “Community,” each employing video, hands-on exhibits, graphics and text to engage visitors.
Highlighting groundbreaking scientific research from the University of California, San Diego, the Salk Institute and other leading institutions, “Aging for All Ages” offers a glimpse into how aging affects basic bodily functions, ranging from muscles and bones to the heart and brain. Age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease are examined as illustrations of how aging can affect the brain and body.
By 2030, 19 percent of people living in the San Diego region will be aged 65 years or older. To emphasize the importance of social and community involvement to successful aging, a major part of “Aging for All Ages” is devoted to sharing the stories and anecdotes of San Diego seniors. Video interviews of more than a dozen San Diego-area seniors are showcased on a large plasma screen, enabling visitors to learn how San Diegans have contributed to the community and are still fulfilling active and vital roles well into their 80’s and 90’s.
Located adjacent to the Fleet’s IMAX® Dome Theater, “Aging for all Ages” features:
* “Face Aging,” an interactive exhibit which allows visitors to use the latest in computer morphing technology to actually watch themselves age. By following a series of instructions at a specialized computer terminal, they can progressively age their own face and view what it might look like at any age up to 70 years old. To demonstrate the profound effects of lifestyle choices, visitors may compare their appearance at a given age with and without the effects of smoking, obesity and excessive exposure to sunlight.
* “Tone Your Bones,” a hands-on exhibit that uses a plastic thighbone to demonstrate stress patterns in healthy bones and the importance of physical activity to preventing bone loss and conditions such as osteoporosis.
* “Think Fast!,” a fun and challenging exploration of how quickly people of different ages react to a falling stick, illustrating how age is not the only factor affecting reaction times.
* An explanation of the difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells, and the latter’s potential for treating aging-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, and other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
* The latest research findings on Alzheimer’s disease, impacts of ultraviolet radiation on the skin and the powerful influence of positive attitudes and coping styles on successful aging.
Complementing the exhibition, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center also offers a monthly program for senior citizens. "Senior Mondays" take place on the first Monday of each month (holidays excluded), offering seniors (65+) the opportunity to visit on the quietest day of the week and enjoy the Fleet’s seven interactive Exhibit Galleries and one IMAX film for only $5. Special educational programs are also offered at 12:30 p.m. on Senior Mondays.
“Aging for All Ages” is funded by a grant from the MetLife Foundation Partnership for Lifelong Learning, with additional support provided by Aging and Independence Services, a division of the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency.
