1. Late Adulthood: Biosocial Development
Chapter 23
Late Adulthood:
Biosocial Development

2. Ageism
Ageism—a term that refers to prejudice against older people because of their age
Why is ageism so strong?
cultural emphasis on growth, strength, and progress
veneration of youth
increasing age segregation

3. Gerontology Gerontology—study of old age
Geriatrics—The medical specialty devoted to old age
Two Different Perspectives
doctors in geriatrics view aging as an illness
gerontologists view aging as socially constructed problem

4. Gerontology, cont.
Contrary to popular belief, many developmentalists now view aging, like all other periods, as marked by gains as well as losses

5. Demography
A reason ageism is decreasing is that there are more aging individuals
7 percent of world’s population now over 65 years
13 percent in developed nations such as United States

6. Demography, cont. Changing shape of demographic pyramid
the population stack has shifted from a pyramid to a square
reflects changes in recent decades—fewer births and increased survival
By 2030 the proportion of those over 65 is projected to double worldwide—to 15 percent

7. Dependents and Independence
Dependency ratio—ratio of self-sufficient, productive adults (those between ages 15 and 65) to dependents—children and the elderly
the greater the number of dependents compared to workers, the higher the dependency ratio

8. Dependents and Independence, cont.
What are some of the problems cultures may face as baby boomers age?
crisis in geriatric medicine
Medicare, Social Security, and quality private health insurance in jeopardy?
entire tax and caregiving burden may fall on shrinking middle cohort

9. Young, Old, and Oldest
Distinctions based on age, health, and social well-being
young-old—healthy and vigorous, financially secure, active in family and community life
old-old—have major physical, mental or social loses, but still have some strengths
oldest-old—dependent on others for almost everything

10. Young, Old, and Oldest, cont.
Some gerontologists like the following terms better
optimal aging
usual aging
impaired aging

11. Anti-Aging Measures Aging has many causes wear and tear
cellular accidents
declining immune system
programmed senescence

12. Calorie Restriction
Mammals can almost double their life span if they eat half as much food throughout adulthood
proven for mice and rats; probably true for monkeys, chimps, and dogs
true for humans—probably but must be carefully done
Pack more nutrients into fewer calories

13. Calorie Restriction, cont.
Older people take drugs that are considered harmless, but do affect nutritional requirements
Mammals with reduced calorie intake are stronger, more vital, and younger in their appearance as long as they consume adequate vitamins and minerals

14. The Skin and Hair
Wrinkles, hair becomes grayer and thinner

15. Body Shape and Muscles
Alteration in overall body height, shape, and weight
With weight loss may come muscle loss
reduces flexibility
Self-perception can lead to a feeling of fragility and a fear of falling

16. Dulling of the Senses Vision Hearing
Only about 10 percent of elderly see well
Cataracts—shrinking of lens, causing vision to be cloudy, opaque, and distorted.
Hearing
Presbycusis—age-related hearing loss
40 % over 65 experience it
Tinnitis—buzzing or ringing. Experienced by 10% of elderly.

17. Theories of Aging
Wear and Tear
The genetic theory

18. Wear and Tear Theory Compares body to machine
Body wears down because of accumulated exposure to inadequate nutrition, disease, pollution, and other stresses
Wear out our bodies by living our lives

19. Genetic Aging What makes entire body age?
focus on whole body rather than individual parts
Some theorists propose that aging is the normal, natural result of the genetic plan for the species

20. Life Expectancy
Genetic programming to reach biological maturation at fixed times and genetically programmed to die after a fixed number of years
Maximums and Averages
maximum life span (humans 115)
average life expectancy
affected by culture, historical and socioeconomic factors

21. Cellular Aging Cellular Accidents
accumulation of minor accidents that occur during cell reproduction cause aging
mutations occur in process of DNA repair
instructions for creating new cells become imperfect
cellular imperfections and declining ability to detect and correct them can lead to harmless changes, small functional loss, or fatal damage

22. Free Radicals
Some of body’s metabolic processes can cause electrons to separate from their atoms and can result in atoms with unpaired electron—oxygen free radicals
can produce errors in cell maintenance and repair, leading to cancer, diabetes, etc.
Antioxidants—compounds that nullify the effects of oxygen free radicals by forming a bond with their unattached oxygen electron
vitamins A, C, and E, mineral selenium

23. Errors in Duplication
Hormonal changes triggered in brain that switch off the genes promoting growth
The Hayflick Limit
genetic clock—according to one theory of aging, a regulatory mechanism in the DNA of cells that regulates the aging process
cells stop replicating at a certain point
Evidence for genetic regulation from diseases producing premature aging

24. The Immune System Diminished immune system is weakened
Two types of attack cells reduced in numbers
B cells in bone marrow, which create antibodies that attack invading bacteria and viruses
T cells, which produce substances that attack infection