Abstract
ABSTRACTModel building in epidemiological-ecologic research on aging is hampered by the prevailing paradigm of standard empiricism, lack of knowledge about the biological origins and causes of aging and problems in differentiating the aging process from age-related diseases and disabilities. Consequently, the identification of associations or causal relations between risk factors, aging, diseases and disabilities suffers from a number of conceptual and methodological problems which sometimes can lead to research results which are absurd in the context of real life despite their formal correctness. The benefit of building theoretical models arises out of the necessity to construct an empirically sensible order of events which renders the research object intelligible. It is suggested that in the multifactorial epidemiological-ecologic aging research it might be useful to adopt and empirically test the concept of the “effective causal complex” instead of continuing, in many cases fruitless, attempts to define the effects of single risk factors on the associations between aging, physiological damage and disease and disability outcomes.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
