Article
The research purpose – is to identify the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms of aging in men aged 50-70 years and to propose an integrative conceptual model of their interaction based on an analysis of the scientific literature.
Methods and organization of the research. An analysis of publications from 2005-2025 in the PubMed, WHO IRIS, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate databases was performed. Priority was given to meta-analyses, longitudinal cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials involving men aged 50-70 years.
Results and discussion. It was demonstrated that significant biological factors in the 50-70 age range include dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, chronic low-grade inflammation, and accelerated biological aging with a nonlinear "jump" around 60 years. Progressive telomere shortening serves as a marker of genomic instability, and upon reaching a critical length, it activates a persistent DNA damage response, leading to the accumulation of senescent cells and increased systemic inflammation. The role of the testosterone/cortisol ratio as an indicator of the balance between anabolic and catabolic processes, sensitive to chronic stress and sleep disturbances, was substantiated. Psychological mechanisms, in this case, are determined, on the one hand, by men's relatively well-preserved accumulated knowledge and life experience despite a general decline in the ability to acquire and process new information, and on the other hand, by the influence of traditional masculinity norms, which increase stress reactivity, depressive symptoms, and reduce the likelihood of seeking help. Social factors (retirement, transformation of social networks, loneliness, divorce/widowhood) increase the likelihood of negative health outcomes because the stress associated with these events disrupts the functioning of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.
Conclusion. The proposed model views allostatic load as the primary mechanism through which social and psychological factors lead to endocrine-metabolic and inflammatory changes in the body. Physical activity serves as an important modifiable factor, reducing this load and supporting functional reserve.
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