Adulthood All physical abilities essentially peak by our mid twenties.

Physical Milestones Menopause: the natural ending of a woman’s ability to reproduce. There are physical symptoms led by a lack of estrogen. Men do not experience anything like menopause.

Sensory Abilities Decline

Age and Driving The brain processes information at slower speeds.

Health Bad news: as we get older our immune system weakens, thus we become more susceptible to life threatening ailments (cancer). Good News: as we get older we build up a collection of antibodies, and get minor colds less often.

Crystallized Intelligence Types of Intelligence Crystallized Intelligence Fluid Intelligence Accumulated knowledge. Increases with age. Ability to solve problems quickly and think abstractly. Peaks in the 20’s and then decreases over time.

Cognitive Changes We tend to remember events from our teens and twenties. Difference between recognition and recall. Recognition remains stable. Recall declines with old age.

Alzheimer’s Disease Acetylcholine A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, language and physical functioning. Runs its course in 5 to 20 years. Caused by a deterioration of neurons that produce the neurotransmitter…. Acetylcholine

Life Expectancy Life expectancy keeps increasing - now about 75. Women outlive men by about 4 years. But more men are conceived 126 to 100. Then 105 to 100 by birth. In other words, men die easier.

Death Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Death/Grief: Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance