Physical Development in Late Adulthood Chapter 17 © 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not

Physical Development in Late Adulthood

Chapter 17

© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

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Chapter Outline

• Longevity• The course of physical development in late

adulthood• Health


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Longevity

• Life expectancy and life span– Life span: Maximum number of years an individual

can live • Between 120–125 years

– Life expectancy: Number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably live• Average is 78.3 years


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Longevity

• Life expectancy and life span – Differences in life expectancy• Due to factors such as health conditions and medical

care• Ethnic differences

– Female life expectancy 80.8 years, males 75.7 years


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Longevity

• Life expectancy and life span – Centenarians• Increasing by approximately 7% each year• Explanations

– Diet– Low-stress lifestyle– Caring community– Activity– Spirituality


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Longevity

• The young-old and the oldest-old– Young-old are aged 65 to 84– Oldest-old are aged 85 or more– Functional age - Person’s actual ability to function• Often affected by multiple variables such as genetics

and medical conditions


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Longevity

• Biological theories of aging– Evolutionary theory: Natural selection has not

eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults

– Cellular clock theory: Cells can divide a maximum of about 75 to 80 times• Age makes cells less capable of dividing• Telomeres – Tips of chromosomes; DNA sequences that

cap chromosomes

– Spiritual theory? Christian’s worldview?© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

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Longevity

• Biological theories of aging– Free-radical theory: People age because:• When cells metabolize energy

– By-products include unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals

– Mitochondrial theory: Aging is caused by the decay of mitochondria

– Hormonal stress theory: Aging in the body’s hormonal system can lower resistance to stress and increase the likelihood of disease


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The Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood

• The aging brain – The shrinking, slowing brain• Brain loses 5% to 10% of its weight between the ages of

20 and 90 years • Volume decreases due to:

– Shrinkage of neurons– Lower numbers of synapses – Reduced length of axon


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• The aging brain – The shrinking, slowing brain• Slowing of function in the brain and spinal cord begins

in middle adulthood and accelerates in late adulthood – Affecting physical coordination and intellectual performance

• Aging - Linked to a reduction in the production of certain neurotransmitters


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• The aging brain– The adapting brain• Neurogenesis: Generation of new neurons• Dendritic growth • Older brains rewire to compensate for losses• Decrease in lateralization

– Improve cognitive functioning


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Figure 17.6 - The Decrease in Brain Lateralization in Older Adults


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• Sleep– 50 % of older adults complain of having difficulty

sleeping• Result in earlier death and is linked to a lower level of

cognitive functioning


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• Strategies to help older adults sleep better at night:– Avoiding caffeine– Avoiding over-the-counter sleep remedies– Staying physically active during the day– Staying mentally active– Limiting naps


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• The immune system – Declines in functioning with age• Extended duration of stress and diminished restorative

processes• Malnutrition involving low levels of protein

– Exercise improves the immune system, and influenza vaccination is important


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• Physical appearance and movement – Most noticeable changes - Wrinkles and age spots – Shorter with aging due to bone loss in their

vertebrae– Weight drops after age 60• Muscle loss

– Older adults move more slowly• Gait problems due to declining cerebellar functioning


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Figure 17.8 - Changes in Body Composition of Bone, Muscle, and Fat from 25 to 75 Years of Age


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• Sensory development – Vision declines• Visual acuity• Color vision• Depth perception


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• Sensory development – Diseases of the eye• Cataracts: Thickening of the lens of the eye

– Causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distorted

• Glaucoma: Damage to the optic nerve because of:– Pressure created by a buildup of fluid in the eye

• Macular degeneration: Deterioration of the macula of the retina– Corresponds to the focal center of the visual field


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• Sensory development – Hearing• Impairments becomes an impediment • Hearing aids and cochlear implants can minimize the

problems linked to hearing loss

– Smell and taste• Smell and taste losses typically begin about age 60• Decreased smell often 1st indicator of dementia onset


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– Touch and pain• Detect touch less in the lower extremities• Decreased sensitivity to pain can help adults cope with

disease and injury – Mask injuries and illnesses that need to be treated

• The circulatory system and lungs – Cardiovascular disorders increase in late

adulthood


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– High blood pressure can be linked with• Illness • Obesity • Anxiety• Stiffening of blood vessels • Lack of exercise

– Lung capacity drops 40% between the ages of 20 and 80• Can be improved with diaphragm-strengthening

exercises


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• Sexuality– Orgasm becomes less frequent in males with age– Many are sexually active as long as they are

healthy– Various therapies have been effective for older

adults who report sexual difficulties


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Figure 17.13 - Sexual Activity in Older Adults with a Partner


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Health

• Health problems– Probability of having some disease or illness

increases with age• Arthritis is the most common followed by hypertension


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Figure 17.15 - The Most Prevalent Chronic Conditions in Middle and Late Adulthood


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Health

• Health problems – Causes of death in older adults• Nearly 60% of 65–74-year-olds die of cancer or

cerebrovascular disease • 75–84 and 85+ age groups

– Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death

• Ethnicity is linked with death rates of older adults


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Health

• Health problems– Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints accompanied

by pain, stiffness, and movement problems– Osteoporosis: Extensive loss of bone tissue– Accidents - 9th leading cause of death in older

adults• Falls are the leading cause• Falls can cause head injuries too


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Health

• Substance use and abuse– Multiple medications - Increase the risks

associated with consuming alcohol or other drugs– Frequency of binge drinking - Highest among older

adults– Invisible epidemic


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Health

• Substance use and abuse– Late-onset alcoholism - Used to describe the onset

of alcoholism after the age of 65• Related to loneliness, loss of a spouse, or a disabling

condition

– Moderate drinking of red wine - Linked to better health and increased longevity due to benefits of resveratrol


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Figure 17.17 - Physical Fitness and Mortality


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Health

• Exercise, nutrition, and weight – Exercise• Linked to increased longevity and prevention of

common chronic diseases• Associated with improvement in the treatment of many

diseases• Improves older adults’ cellular functioning and immune

system functioning


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Health

• Exercise, nutrition, and weight – Exercise• 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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Health

• Exercise, nutrition, and weight– Nutrition and weight• Getting adequate nutrition• Avoiding overweight and obesity• Role of calorie restriction in improving health and

extending life


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Health

• Exercise, nutrition, and weight– Controversy over vitamins and aging• Balanced diet - Needed for successful aging• Antioxidants

– Slow the aging process and improve the health– Neutralize free-radical activity– Reduce oxidative stress


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Health

• Health treatment – Disease management programs - Need to be

expanded– Geriatric nurses - Helpful in treating the health

care problems


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Health

– Development of alternative home and community-based care• Decreased the percentage of older adults who live in

nursing homes

– Factor related to health and survival in a nursing home:• Patient’s feelings of control and self-determination


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Figure 17.22 - Perceived Control and Mortality


Documents

Physical Development in Late Adulthood Chapter 17 © 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not