1. 20 - Adulthood: Biosocial Development Age 25 +

3. Senescence Gradual physical decline related to aging

4. Aging brain Neurons fire more slowly Brain size decreases Processing takes longer Severe brain loss due to: ▫Drug use ▫Poor circulation ▫Viruses ▫Genes

5. Physical appearance 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

6. Sense organs Vision ▫Peripheral vision narrows ▫Color vision shifts (vivid to faded more quickly) ▫Farsightedness increases Hearing ▫Loss not apparent until after 60

7. Sexual-Reproductive System 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

8. Fertility 15% of all couples are infertile 40’s = half are infertile, half risk complications

9. Causes of 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

10. Treatments of 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

11. 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

12. Male menopause (Andropause) Drop in testosterone ▫Reduced sexual desire, erections, & muscle mass ▫Effectiveness of HRT is questionable

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Measuring 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

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