1. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood PowerPoints developed by Nicholas Greco IV, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL

2. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Life Span and Life Expectancy  Life span -- maximum number of years an individual can live 120–125 years; remains unchanged  Life expectancy -- number of years that the average person, born in a particular year, will probably live has increased 31 years since 1900 average U.S. life expectancy = 78 years

3. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Differences in Life Expectancy  International differences due to health conditions, medical care, etc.  Sex differences women outlive males an average of 5 years due to health attitudes, habits, lifestyles, occupation biological factors -- females outlive males across species

4. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Centenarians  Increasing numbers 15,000 in 1980 55,000 in 2008  Genes play a role  Also family history, health, exercise, education, personality, and lifestyle

5. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Biological Theories of Aging  Evolutionary Theory of Aging Natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults Natural selection is linked to reproductive fitness

6. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Biological Theories of Aging  Cellular Clock Theory as we age, cells become less capable of dividing telomeres -- DNA sequences that cap chromosomes as cells divide, telomeres become shorter and eventually cells can no longer divide

7. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Biological Theories of Aging  Free Radical Theory -- people age because as cells metabolize energy, the by-products include unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals free radicals damage DNA resulting damage can lead to range of disorders such as cancer and arthritis

8. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Biological Theories of Aging  Hormonal Stress Theory -- aging in the body’s hormone system can lower resistance to stress and increase likelihood of disease prolonged elevation of stress-related hormones associated with risk of chronic disease

9. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Aging and Adaptive Brain  The brain loses volume and weight  Some areas of brain shrink more than others  As brain ages, it adapts  Lack of dendrite growth may be lack of stimulation and activity in brain  Using both hemispheres may improve cognitive functioning

10. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Physical Development  Inevitable if we live to old age Wrinkles and age spots Loss of height and weight Slower movements Exercise and appropriate weight lifting may help to reduce the decrease in muscle mass and may improve motor functions

11. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sensory Development  Vision visual acuity, color vision, and depth perception decline cataracts -- thickening of lens glaucoma -- optic nerve damaged by pressure from fluid buildup macular degeneration -- deterioration of retina

12. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sensory Development  Hearing degeneration of cochlea  Smell and taste most older adults lose some ability to taste and/or smell  Touch and pain Changes in touch are not problematic Decreased sensitivity to pain may mask injury and illness

13. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Circulatory System and Lungs  Blood pressure consistently over 120/80 should be treated to reduce threat of heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease  Lung capacity drops 40 percent between 20 and 80 years even without disease lungs lose elasticity, chest shrinks, and diaphragm weakens

14. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sexuality  Sexuality can be life-long  Aging changes sexual performance, especially in males orgasm less frequent erectile dysfunction education may help deal with these issues

15. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Health Problems  As we age, probability of illness increases  Arthritis and hypertension are most common chronic disorders  Low income is strongly related to health problems in late adulthood Approximately three times as many poor as non-poor older adults report that chronic disorders limit their activities

16. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Causes of Death in Older Adults  Nearly 60 percent of U.S. adults aged 65– 74 die of cancer or cardiovascular disease  Cancer is now the leading cause of death  In the 75–84 and 85-and-over age groups, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death

17. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Arthritis  Arthritis -- inflammation of the joints, accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problems  Incurable disorder that affects hips, knees, ankles, fingers, and vertebrae  Symptoms reduced by drugs, range-of- motion exercises, weight reduction, and joint replacement

18. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Osteoporosis  Osteoporosis -- extensive loss of bone tissue  Women are especially vulnerable; it is the leading cause of broken bones in women  More common in non-Latina White, thin, and small-framed women  Related to deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, estrogen, and lack of exercise

19. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Accidents  Accidents are the sixth-leading cause of death among older adults  Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths in those 65 and older  Participation in an exercise class once a week for three years reduced the fall risk and the number of falling incidents

20. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Exercise  Gerontologists recommend strength training in addition to aerobic activity for older adults  Weightlifting can preserve muscle mass  Exercise helps people maintain independence and prevents institutionalization  Increases longevity

21. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Nutrition and Weight  Leaner adults live longer, healthier lives  Calorie restriction works to increase life span of animals but human connection is not specifically known

22. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Health Treatment  Quality of health treatment for older adults needs improvement  Geriatric nurses can be helpful  Quality of nursing homes varies and costs are escalating  Concerns focus on patient’s medical care, right to privacy, access to medical information, safety and lifestyle freedom

23. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Alternatives to Nursing Home Care  Home health care  Day-care centers  Preventive medicine clinics  Alternatives are potentially less expensive and less likely to depersonalize the patient  Patients perform better cognitively

24. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Multidimensionality and Multidirectionality  Speed of processing information declines in late adulthood  Decline in speed is likely due to decline in functioning of brain and central nervous system  Health and exercise may be influencing factors

25. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Attention  Selective attention -- focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant  Divided attention -- concentrating on more than one activity at the same time  Sustained attention -- state of readiness to detect and respond to small changes occurring at random times in the environment also known as vigilance

26. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Memory  Episodic memory -- retention of information about the where and when of life’s happenings  Semantic memory -- person’s knowledge about the world fields of expertise; general academic knowledge; everyday knowledge of words, places, and things  Both show declines in older adults

27. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Memory  Working memory -- closely linked to short- term memory but emphasizes memory as a place for mental work  Perceptual speed -- amount of time it takes to perform simple perceptual-motor tasks  Decline in perceptual speed in older adults is linked to decline in working memory

28. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Memory  Explicit memory -- memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state also known as declarative memory  Implicit memory -- memory without conscious recollection; it involves skills and routine procedures that are automatically performed  Implicit memory is less likely to be adversely affected by aging

29. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Wisdom  Wisdom -- expert knowledge about the practical aspects of life that permits excellent judgment about important matters practical knowledge development of coping skills  High levels of wisdom are rare  Factors other than age are critical for wisdom to develop

30. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Training Cognitive Skills  Training can improve the cognitive skills of many older adults  There is some loss of plasticity in late adulthood, especially in those older than 85 years  Cognitive vitality can be improved with training

31. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging  Cognitive neuroscience -- field of study that links brain and cognitive functioning  Changes in brain can influence cognitive functioning, and changes in cognitive functioning can change brain  Lack of use of working memory may cause neural connections in prefrontal lobes to atrophy

32. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Work  Older adults increasingly work part-time in retirement  Probability of employment also was positively correlated with educational attainment and being married to a working wife  Older workers have a lower rate of absenteeism, fewer accidents, and increased job satisfaction

33. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Adjustment to Retirement  Best adjustment for those who are healthy have adequate income active educated have an extended social network satisfied with life before retirement

34. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Depression  Major depression -- mood disorder in which the individual is deeply unhappy, demoralized, self-derogatory, and bored  Predictors of depression: earlier symptoms, poor health, death of a spouse, and low social support Insomnia is a risk factor for depression in older adults  Depression is a treatable condition

35. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Dementia  Dementia -- global term for any neurological disorder in which the primary symptoms involve a deterioration of mental functioning  Loss of ability to care for themselves and recognize familiar surroundings and people

36. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Alzheimer’s Disease  Alzheimer’s Disease -- a progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and eventually physical function Early- (younger than 65) and late-onset (older than 65) Formation of amyloid plaques -- deposits of protein accumulating in blood vessels Neurofibrillary tangles -- twisted fibers that build up in neurons

37. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease  No certain scientific proof of causes Age is a risk factor Genetic links seem to exist Lifestyle factors Lack of exercise  Mild cognitive impairment represents a transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early Alzheimer disease and dementias

38. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Estimated Risks for Developing Alzheimer Disease at Different Ages for Women and Men  INSERT FIGURE 15.7 HERE

39. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Care for Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease  Family members and other care providers can become physically and emotionally drained  Need for respite care -- services that provide temporary relief to caregivers

40. (c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Parkinson’s Disease  Parkinson’s disease -- a chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis  Onset is triggered by degeneration of neurons that produce dopamine in the brain  Dopamine -- neurotransmitter necessary for normal brain functioning