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Life-Span Development Twelfth Edition. Chapter 17: Physical Development in Late Adulthood. Life Expectancy and Life Span. Life Span: the maximum number of years an individual can live; has remained between 120–125 years - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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©2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Life-Span Development Life-Span Development Twelfth EditionTwelfth Edition
Chapter 17:
Physical Development in Late Adulthood
©2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Life Expectancy and Life SpanLife Expectancy and Life Span
Life Span: the maximum number of years an individual can live; has remained between 120–125 years
Life Expectancy: the number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably liveHas increased an average of 30 years since 1900Average life expectancy today is 77.6 years
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Life Expectancy and Life SpanLife Expectancy and Life SpanCross-Cultural Differences:
Japan has highest life expectancy (81 years) Differences in life expectancy across countries are due to
factors such as health conditions and medical care
Ethnic Differences: Life expectancy for African Americans is 7 years lower
than that of non-Latino Whites
Females’ ability to outlive males widens beginning in the mid-thirties Social factors (health, attitudes, habits, lifestyles,
occupation) Biological factors
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Life Expectancy and Life SpanLife Expectancy and Life SpanNumber of centenarians is increasing by
approximately 7% each yearGetting older may not mean getting sickerMany centenarians are women
Among centenarians, men are more likely to be healthier than women
Ability to cope successfully with stress seems to be important to survival
Other important factors:Genes and family historyHealth, education, personality, and lifestyle
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Young-Old, Old-Old, Oldest-OldYoung-Old, Old-Old, Oldest-Old
Some developmentalists divide late adulthood:Young-old are aged 65 to 74Old-old are aged 75 or moreOldest-old are aged 85 or more
Important to consider function rather than age
Differences between levels of “old”:Compared with oldest-old, young-old have a greater
potential for physical and cognitive fitness, higher levels of emotional well-being, and more effective strategies for mastering gains and losses of old age
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Young-Old, Old-Old, Oldest-OldYoung-Old, Old-Old, Oldest-Old
The Oldest-Old:Are mostly female, widowed, and living aloneAre usually hospitalized at some time in last years
of lifeDie mostly alone in a hospital or institutionAre a heterogeneous, diverse group
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Biological Theories of AgingBiological Theories of AgingCellular Clock Theory: cells can divide a
maximum of 75-80 times; this places the maximum human life span at 120–125 years of ageTelomeres become shorter each time a cell divides
Free-Radical Theory: people age because when cells metabolize energy, the by-products include unstable oxygen molecules, or free radicalsFree radicals damage DNA and other cellular structures
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Biological Theories of AgingBiological Theories of Aging
Mitochondrial Theory: aging is due to the decay of mitochondriaMitochondria: tiny bodies within cells that supply
essential energy for function, growth, and repair
Hormonal Stress Theory: aging in the body’s hormonal system can lower resistance to stress and increase the likelihood of diseaseProlonged, elevated levels of stress hormones are
associated with increased risks for many diseases
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The Aging BrainThe Aging Brain On average, the brain shrinks 5% to 10% between the ages
of 20 and 90 May result from a decrease in dendrites, damage to myelin
sheath, or the death of brain cells
Some areas of the brain shrink more than others Shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex is linked with a decrease in
working memory and other cognitive activities
A general slowing of function in the brain and spinal cord begins in middle adulthood and accelerates in late adulthood
Aging has been linked to a reduction in the production of certain neurotransmitters
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The Adapting BrainThe Adapting Brain
As the brain ages, it adapts in several ways:Neurogenesis: the generation of new neurons
throughout the life spanDendrite growth increases from the 40’s to 70’sOlder brains rewire to compensate for lossesHemispheric lateralization can decrease; may
improve cognitive functioning
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The Adapting BrainThe Adapting Brain
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The Immune SystemThe Immune System
The immune system declines in functioning with ageExtended duration of stress; diminished restorative
processesMalnutrition involving low levels of protein
Exercise improves the immune system, and influenza vaccination is very important for older adults
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Physical Appearance and MovementPhysical Appearance and Movement
Wrinkles and age spots become more noticeable
People get shorter with aging due to bone loss in their vertebrae
Weight typically drops after we reach age 60; likely because we lose muscle
Older adults move more slowly than young adults
Exercise and appropriate weight lifting can help reduce these declines
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Physical Appearance and MovementPhysical Appearance and Movement
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Physical Appearance and MovementPhysical Appearance and Movement
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Sensory DevelopmentSensory Development
Vision:Decline in vision becomes more pronouncedAdaptation to dark and driving at night becomes
especially difficult Decline may be the result of a reduction in the quality or
intensity of light reaching the retina
Color vision may decline as a result of the yellowing of the lens of the eye
Depth perception declines in late adulthood Decrease in contrast sensitivity
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Sensory DevelopmentSensory Development
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Sensory DevelopmentSensory Development
Diseases of the Eye:Cataracts: a thickening of the lens of the eye that
causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distorted
Glaucoma: damage to the optic nerve because of the pressure created by a buildup of fluid in the eye
Macular Degeneration: deterioration of the macula of the retina, which corresponds to the focal center of the visual field
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Sensory DevelopmentSensory Development Hearing:
Hearing impairments are typical in late adulthood 15% of the population over age 65 is legally deaf Usually due to degeneration of the cochlea
Some (but not all) hearing problems can be corrected by hearing aids
Smell and Taste: Smell and taste losses typically begin about age 60
Less decline in healthy older adults Often leads to a desire for more seasoned foods
Touch and Pain: Slight decline in touch sensitivity with age Older adults are less sensitive to pain
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The Circulatory System and LungsThe Circulatory System and Lungs
Cardiovascular disorders increase in late adulthood
Rise in blood pressure can be linked with illness, obesity, anxiety, stiffening of blood vessels, or lack of exercise
Lung capacity drops 40% between the ages of 20 and 80, even without disease
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SexualitySexuality
Orgasm becomes less frequent in males with age
Many older adults are sexually active as long as they are healthyOlder adults who do not have a partner are far less
likely to be sexually active than those who have a partner
Various therapies have been effective for older adults who report sexual difficulties
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SexualitySexuality
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Health ProblemsHealth ProblemsProbability of having some disease or illness
increases with ageArthritis is the most commonHypertension is the second most common
Older women have a higher incidence of arthritis, hypertension, and visual problems than older men
Older men are more likely than women to have hearing impairments
Lifestyle and social and psychological factors are linked to health in older adults
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Health ProblemsHealth Problems
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Health ProblemsHealth Problems
Nearly 75% of older adults die from heart disease, cancer, or cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
Ethnicity is linked with death rates of older adultsAfrican Americans have high death rates for stroke,
heart disease, lung cancer, and female breast cancer Asian Americans and Latinos have low death rates for
these diseases
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Health ProblemsHealth Problems
Arthritis: an inflammation of the joints accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problemsCommon in older adultsSymptoms can be reduced with:
Use of some drugs like aspirin Range-of-motion exercises Weight reduction Joint replacement in extreme cases
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Health ProblemsHealth Problems
Osteoporosis: extensive loss of bone tissueAffects women more often than menCan be prevented by:
Eating calcium-rich foods and vegetables Having a regular exercise program Medication
Accidents: 7th leading cause of death in older adultsHealing and recuperation are slower in older adultsExercise programs can reduce risks
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Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse Medications can increase the risks associated with
consuming alcohol or other drugs
Majority of U.S. adults 65 and older completely abstain from alcohol
Substance abuse among older adults may be an “invisible epidemic”
Late-Onset Alcoholism: onset of alcoholism after the age of 65 Often related to loneliness, loss of a spouse, or a disabling
condition
Moderate drinking of red wine is linked to better health and increased longevity
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Exercise, Nutrition, and WeightExercise, Nutrition, and WeightExercise:
Active adults are healthier and happierBenefits:
Linked to increased longevity Related to prevention of common chronic diseases Associated with improvement in the treatment of many
diseases Can optimize body composition and reduce the decline in
motor skills as aging occurs Reduces the likelihood that older adults will develop mental
health problems Linked to improved brain and cognitive functioning
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Exercise, Nutrition, and WeightExercise, Nutrition, and Weight
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Exercise, Nutrition, and WeightExercise, Nutrition, and Weight
Nutrition and Weight:Some older adults restrict their dietary intake in a
way that may be harmful to their healthDecreased snacking between meals may contribute
to harmful weight lossCalorie restriction has been proven to extend the
life span of certain animals, but it is not known if this works in humans
New research suggests that antioxidants may help slow the aging process and possibly prevent some diseases
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Exercise, Nutrition, and WeightExercise, Nutrition, and Weight
Other factors such as exercise, better health practices, and good nutritional habits may be actual cause of positive correlation between vitamin intake and slower aging, but more research needs to be done
There is now more interest in the possible link between vitamins and cognitive performance in older adults
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Health TreatmentHealth TreatmentSome studies show older adults in the U.S.
receive the recommended medical care only half the time
Probability of being in a nursing home or other extended-care facilities increases with ageThe quality of these facilities varies and is a source of
concern Over 33% fail to meet minimum federal standards
Many specialists recommend alternatives, such as home health care, day-care centers, and preventative medicine clinics
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Health TreatmentHealth Treatment
Patient’s feelings of control and self-determination are important for health and survival in nursing homesCoping skills may reduce stress-related hormones,
improving overall health
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Health TreatmentHealth Treatment
