This course is part of the UBC Micro-certificate in Healthy Aging.
This course introduces the emerging field of geroscience and examines how the biology of aging influences functional ability, chronic disease, frailty and healthy longevity. You explore core biological processes of aging, the idea of biological versus chronological age and why people age differently across individuals and populations.
This course is designed for people who support older adults in health, community and volunteer roles and want a clearer understanding of how aging biology shows up in everyday practice. It is especially relevant if you make or support decisions about assessment, care planning or programs for older adults and want to connect biological concepts to function, resilience and quality of life.
Through examples and guided reflection, you explore how aging biology influences real-world outcomes such as mobility, cognition, vitality, mood and sensory changes. As you move through the course, you consider how ideas such as intrinsic capacity, frailty and multimorbidity can inform conversations with older adults and families and help you weigh the benefits, risks and limits of different interventions.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- explain core principles of geroscience and how biological aging contributes to functional change, disease risk and diverse aging trajectories.
- describe key biological mechanisms of aging and their relationship to declines in physiological resilience, repair capacity and functional ability.
- interpret intrinsic capacity as an integrated framework linking biological aging, functional ability and healthy aging in clinical and community contexts.
- identify how changes in aging biology and functional capacity manifest in outcomes such as mobility, cognition, vitality, psychological well-being and sensory function.
- evaluate evidence-informed interventions that may influence biological aging processes and support the maintenance of function and intrinsic capacity across later life.
Course outline
In this course, you work through four modules that connect aging biology to function, health and practice.
- Module 1: Introduction to Geroscience
- Module 2: The biology of functional changes with age
- Module 3: Intrinsic capacity and healthy aging
- Module 4: Interventions that target aging biology and functional capacity
How am I assessed?
You are assessed through a combination of short online quizzes, applied reflection activities and a final integrative assignment that asks you to apply course ideas in your own professional or community context. Participation in selected online discussions or interactive activities may also contribute to your overall standing in the course. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Expected effort
Expect to spend a total of 12 to 15 hours engaging with course materials and activities over four to six weeks. This includes working through four modules, completing readings and short quizzes, joining optional real-time online Q&A and discussion sessions, and submitting reflection and application activities.
Textbook and technology requirements
There is no required textbook for this course; all essential readings and resources are provided online through the course platform.
To take this course, and for the best experience, we recommend you have access to:
- an email account
- a computer, laptop or tablet using Windows or macOS
- the latest version of a web browser or the previous major version
- a reliable internet connection
- a webcam/video camera and microphone for interactive activities
Requisites
There are no formal prerequisites for this course. Familiarity with working or volunteering with older adults, or an interest in aging, health or community care, is an asset but not required.
Course format
This part-time, 100% online course is facilitator supported and offered primarily in an asynchronous format, consistent with the micro-certificate’s overall delivery. You work through course modules on your own time over four to six weeks, and optional live Q&A sessions may be offered. You also have access to an online discussion forum, where you can interact with your peers and instructors.