Personal Health and Well-Being Chapter 4 Personal Health and Well-Being

Biological Aging: Intrinsic Senescence Normal functional decline over time Effects differ from person to person What causes intrinsic aging? Why does skin become less elastic? Why don’t cells live forever? © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Programmed Theories of Biological Aging Programmed Senescence Cell division has a limit “Hayflick Limit” Why do cells stop dividing? Structure and function changes Produce less energy, make enzymes slowly, allow waste buildup The Phase II Phenomenon © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Programmed Theories of Biological Aging Endocrine and Immunological Theory Endocrine system responds to internal and external body changes Changes in levels of estrogen and testosterone Immune system © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Error Theories of Biological Aging Somatic Mutation Theory Cross-linking Theory Free Radicals Theory Population dynamics Life history of the organism Theory of natural selection © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of Aging: Musculoskeletal System Muscle and bone content decrease Can decrease 50% by age 80 Age 20 + Loss of bone mass in older men & women Exercise improves bone strength, health, balance and prevents fractures, falls © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of Aging: Sensory Changes Taste Buds decline in number and decrease in size Smell Some loss with age Touch Decreased sensitivity to touch, temperature, vibration © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of Aging: Sensory Changes Sight Changes begin as early as age 30 By 55, most need glasses for reading Functional effects of physical change Hearing Some loss each year after age 50 Forms of hearing loss and causes © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in Health Status: Chronic Disease The epidemiological transition Lower rates of acute illness Increased rate of chronic illness Why? People are living longer More chronic disease Shift from younger to older population © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.1 The Four Leading Causes of Death by Age Among People 65+ United States, 2006 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.2 Chronic Health Conditions Among People Age 65+ By Sex, 2007–2008 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.3 Limitation on Usual Activities Due to Chronic Conditions Adults, United States, 2006 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in Health Status: Chronic Disease Examples of Non-lethal Chronic Diseases Arthritis; Hearing impairment; Cataracts Race and Gender African American compared with White American Older women compared with older men © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.4 Activity of Daily Living Limitations Community-Dwelling People, Age 65 and Over, by Race/ Ethnicity, 2004 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.5 Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Limitations Community Dwelling People, Age 65 and Over, by Race/Ethnicity, 2002 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

ADL and IADL Limitations Functional losses Increase with age 2005 NCHS study Medicare beneficiaries aged 65-74 Racial and ethnic differences in disability from limitations Will increase in older population lead to more people with disability in later life? © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disability and the Future Some evidence now that some older people overcome limitations Regain functional ability through Health promotion Disease prevention Effective management of disability © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Improvements in Technology New medical technologies will keep older people healthy and active longer Many technologies today Drugs Mobile phones Adaptive devices and assistive technology Computers © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Improvements in Technology Two groups of older people today Comfortable using new tech Uncomfortable using new tech Could lead to a “digital divide” Suggestions Web designers should design sites to accommodate older users © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Table 4.1 Persons Using the Internet in and Outside the Home, by Age United States, 2009 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Improvements in the Environment Changes in the environment can also improve the quality of life for older people Technology can allow families to monitor older relatives at risk of falling Can also detect wandering, a problem faced by Alzheimer’s patients. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Improvements in Self Care Information can enhance self-care Older people will use it, if on hand Self-care lowers health care costs Older people in programs benefit from Encouragement Contact with good role models Supportive environment; Social support © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in Life-Style: Smoking and Nutrition Life experiences influence later health Abuse; Poverty; Broken home Low SES and relationship to self-destructive behavior Lifestyle changes for improving health Decreased smoking among adult population Better nutrition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.6 Overweight, Obesity, and Healthy Weight As Measured by BMI; Among Persons 65 Years of Age and Over, by Selected Characteristics: United States, 2003–2006. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in Life-Style: Exercise Aerobic exercise improves a whole range of physical conditions Overweight body doesn’t work as well American focus on weight loss and diet misses the point of successful aging Healthy weight must be coupled with exercise and activity © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in Life-Style: Stress Reduction Regular practice of tension reduction improves health and well-being in later life Relaxation techniques Meditation Religious retreats © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Compression of Morbidity Hypothesis Will longer life expectancy be good? Fries (1980, 1987) predicted Life expectancy increase accompanied by fewer years of disability Less suffering from chronic disease Less need for medical care “Rectangularization of the life curve” © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 4.7 Compression of Morbidity © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Successful Aging: Rowe & Kahn Gerontologists should spend time studying people who age well Should include focus on lifestyle choices, psychological, and social conditions Should recognize that people differ in rates of aging Suggest a “New Gerontology” © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Successful Aging: The SOC Model Baltes & Baltes & others SOC Selective Optimization with Compensation Anyone can make the most of their abilities Can live a full and engaged life © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Successful Aging: A Life Course Model Successful aging is largely within a person’s power One needs to Preserve the health they’ve got Do as little damage as possible to their body Strengthen what they can © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Anti-Aging Medicine and Science The anti-aging movement has some beneficial options But movement poses some dangers Wasting money on unproven supplements Substituting for medical treatment of serious problems © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Social Inequality and Personal Health Later life with different health resources Socioeconomic differences Recommendations Public policies to improve health in childhood and middle age Health promotion programs for poorer older people © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.