Adulthood: Biosocial DevelopmentAge 25 +

What is senescence?

•Gradual physical decline related to aging

How does the brain change?

•Neurons fire more slowly•Brain size decreases•Processing takes longer•Severe brain loss due to:

▫Drug use▫Poor circulation▫Viruses▫Genes

How does physical appearance change?•Age 30-Skin becomes thinner &

less flexible•Age 60 – All faces are wrinkled•Hair turns gray & thinner•“Middle-age spread” appears•Muscles weaken•Height decreases

▫Natural collapse of vertebrae in spine

•Effects are less if you exercise

How does vision and hearing change?

•Vision▫Peripheral vision

narrows▫Color vision shifts (vivid

to faded more quickly)▫Farsightedness

increases•Hearing

▫Loss not apparent until after 60

Do you remember?

•How does the brain change?•How does your skin, hair, muscles, and

height change?•How does your vision and hearing

change?

How does the sexual-reproductive System change?•Sexual responsiveness

▫Arousal is slower▫Orgasm takes longer

•All ages enjoy sex•Men & women – most likely “extremely

satisfied” with sex if in a committed, monogamous relationship

How does fertility change?

•15% of all couples are infertile•40’s = half are infertile, half risk

complications

What causes infertility?• Males

▫Responsible for 1/3 of infertility▫Age, radiation, drugs, stress, drug abuse,

alcoholism cigarette smoking Reduces sperm number, shape, and motility

• Females▫Responsible for 1/3 of infertility▫1/3 of infertility is a mystery▫Age, diseases, smoking, esteem dieting, obesity▫Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – Can block

fallopian tubes

What are the treatments for infertility?

•Assisted reproductive technology (ART)▫Overcome low sperm count & blocked

fallopian tubes•In Vitro fertilization (IVF)

▫Eggs (ova) removed and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory

▫After fertilized cells (Zygotes) have divided several times – inserted into the woman’s uterus

What are the effects of menopause?

•Around age 50 – Menstrual periods cease•Ovulation stops•Estrogen, progesterone & testosterone

drops•Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

▫Usually estrogen & progesterone▫Minimizes menopausal symptoms▫Reduces risk of osteoporosis▫Involves health risks

Not recommended as much today

What is male menopause (Andropause)?

•Drop in testosterone▫Reduced sexual desire, erections, & muscle

mass▫Effectiveness of HRT is questionable

Do you remember?

•How does your sexual response system change?

•Men are responsible for how much of infertility?

•What causes infertility in men and women?

•What are some treatments for infertility?•What causes menopause?•What is andropause, and what causes it?

What is the effects of health habits and age?•Diseases and chronic conditions are

strongly affected by lifestyle▫Drug abuse

Abuse of illegal drugs decreases Abuse of prescription drugs increases

▫Tobacco Lung cancer = leading cause of cancer deaths

(including women) in North America Declined in U.S. Rising in developing nations Affected by social norms, laws, & advertising

Health habits & age (Cont.)• Drinking

▫ In moderation Reduces coronary heart disease and strokes Increased “good” cholesterol (HDL) Reduces “Bad” cholesterol (LDL)

▫Heavy drinking Increases violent death Implicated in 60 diseases

▫Drinking alcohol is not a health strategy• Overeating

▫Excess weight increases every chronic disease▫E.g. diabetes

Health habits & age (Cont.)

•U.S. = Highest rate of obesity and diabetes

•Metabolism decreases by 1/3•Genetics – Correlates with weight and

diabetes▫Cultural influences are more important

•Inactivity – Correlates with almost every unhealthy condition

Do you remember?

•What is the leading cause of cancer deaths (including women) in North America?

•What is the bad cholesterol in a blood test?

•What increases every chronic disease?•What is the effect of aging on

metabolism?

How can you deal with stress?

•Dealing with stress▫Problem –focused coping

Solve the problem causing the stress Used more by men

▫Emotion focused coping Change your feelings about the situation

causing the stress Used more by women

•High stress increases the risk of disease

How do we measure health?

•Mortality = Death▫Number of deaths each year per 1,000

people in a population•Morbidity = Disease

▫The rate of physical, emotional and fatal diseases in a population

How is income related to health?

•Well-educated, financially secure adults (with high socioeconomic status – SES) live longer▫Healthy habits▫Better housing▫Better medical care

Do you remember?

•What are the two strategies for dealing with stress?

•What is the difference between mortality and morbidity?

•What is the relationship between income and health?