1. CHAPTER FIFTEEN PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
I. PHYSICAL CHANGES
Changes or declines in many physical functions occur very gradually through the 40s and 50s
Among adults who are otherwise healthy, the amount of loss is far less than folklore would have us believe
This period of life may be the intellectual and creative peak
For a few physical functions, however, change or decline is already substantial in the middle adult years
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3. A. The Brain & Nervous System
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
A. The Brain & Nervous System
New technology (primarily MRI) has recently increased our knowledge of normal brain function
White matter volume crests during middle adulthood, while grey matter volume continues its decline that began in childhood and does not level off until about age 60
New synapses are continuing to form in middle age, but unlike in the younger years, more synapses are lost than are formed
The general rule of brain maturation is that the areas of the brain that develop last are the ones that begin to decline first, namely areas located within the frontal and parietal lobes
Refer to Figure 15.1 Page 460
(continued)
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4. The Brain & Nervous System (continued)
Behavioural choices and mental health affect the adult brain
Cognitive tasks activate a larger area of brain tissue in middle-aged adults than they do in younger adults
The brains of middle-aged and younger adults respond differently to sensory stimuli
Despite these apparently negative findings, in everyday situations requiring intense concentration and rapid judgments (for example when driving a car), middle-aged adults perform better than their younger counterparts
Such findings illustrate the difficulty researchers face in finding direct relationships between age-related brain differences and cross-age variations in behaviour
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5. B. The Reproductive System
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
B. The Reproductive System
Male Climacteric:
Climacteric is the term used to describe the adult period during which reproductive capacity declines or is lost
In men, the climacteric is extremely gradual, with a slow loss of reproductive capacity
Menopause:
the cessation of monthly menstrual cycles in middle-aged women
The average age of menopause is roughly age 50
(continued)
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6. The Reproductive System (continued)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
The Reproductive System (continued)
Menopausal Phases:
Premenopausal phase: the stage of menopause during which estrogen levels fall somewhat, menstrual periods are less regular, and anovulatory cycles begin to occur
Perimenopausal phase: the stage of menopause during which estrogen and progesterone levels are erratic, menstrual cycles may be very irregular, and women begin to experience symptoms such as hot flashes
Postmenopausal phase: the last stage of menopause; a woman is postmenopausal when she has had no menstrual periods for a year or more
(continued)
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7. The Reproductive System (continued)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
The Reproductive System (continued)
Psychological Effects of Menopause:
None of several large studies reported any connection between menopausal status and a rise in depression or other psychological symptoms
Negativity during menopause may stem from a woman’s overall negativity and life stressors before entering menopause
Individual differences: Women with significant symptoms, and whose symptoms last the longest, experience the most depression and negative moods
Sleep deprivation from symptoms may be misdiagnosed as depression
(continued)
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8. The Reproductive System (continued)
Sexual Activity:
The great majority of middle-aged adults remain sexually active, although the frequency of sex declines in these years
This decline is more likely to be from the demands from other roles, rather than the result of declining hormones
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9. No Easy Answers: The Pros and Cons of Hormone Replacement Therapy
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
No Easy Answers: The Pros and Cons of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Most of the physical symptoms and effects of menopause can be dramatically reduced by taking estrogen and progesterone
The risk of endometrial cancer increased three- to ten-fold in women taking replacement estrogen
A combination of estrogen and progesterone at quite low doses:
has the same benefits as estrogen alone, but without the increased risk of endometrial cancer
Decreases some other important health risks while increasing others
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
C. The Skeletal System
Bone loss begins at about age 30 for both men and women, but in women the process is accelerated by decreasing estrogen and progesterone levels in menopause
The major consequence of this loss of bone density is a significantly increased risk of fractures, beginning as early as age 50 for women, and much later for men
Osteoporosis can be prevented by:
getting enough calcium during early adulthood, so the peak level of bone mass is as robust as possible
getting regular exercise, particularly weight-bearing exercise such as walking or strength training throughout adult life
Osteoporosis: loss of bone mass with age, resulting in more brittle and porous bones
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11. Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
D. Vision & Hearing
Presbyopia:
Normal loss of visual acuity with aging, especially the ability to focus the eyes on near objects
The ability to focus on near objects deteriorates rapidly in the 40s and early 50s
Presbycusis:
Normal loss of hearing with aging, especially of high-frequency or very low-frequency tones
This progresses more slowly than presbyopia
Hearing loss accelerates after age 55
Both are signs of primary aging, but secondary aging processes are also involved
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13. II. HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
II. HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS
No single variable affects the quality of life in middle and late adulthood as much as health
A middle-aged person in good health often functions as well and has as much energy as much younger adults
Mid-life is the era during which the poor health habits and risky behaviours of earlier years begin to catch up with us
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14. A. Health Trends at Mid-life
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
A. Health Trends at Mid-life
Middle-aged adults report that they experience annoying aches and pains with greater frequency than when they were younger, and many are unhappy with their bodies
Perhaps half of adults between 40 and 65 have either some diagnosed disease or disability or a significant, but undiagnosed problem
Life-expectancy is remarkably high, and has been rising over the past few decades
Middle-aged adults have more chronic diseases and disabilities than do young adults
Disease-related death increases in middle-adulthood
Refer to Figure 15.2 (next slide) Page 468 and Figure 15.3 (slide 16) Page 469
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15. Life Expectancy at Age 40 in Canada
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16. Disease Related Deaths in Canada
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17. B. Cardiovascular Disease
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
B. Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD):
A variety of physical problems, especially in the arteries
Atherosclerosis: narrowing of the arteries caused by deposits of a fatty substance called plaque
Significant arterial blockage results in a heart attack or stroke
CVD decreased by 45.8% between 1985 and 1999
CVD remains the leading cause of death among adults in Canada, accounting for more than one third of all deaths in men and women
(continued)
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18. Cardiovascular Disease (continued)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Cardiovascular Disease (continued)
General Risk Factors:
The Framington study (a long term epidemiological study) identified characteristics that predicted CVD
A large percentage of Canadians have CVD risk factors
44% of men, 33% of women have 2 or more major risk factors
These risks are cumulative, not just additive
High cholesterol is 3 times more serious in a smoker than in a non smoker
Refer to table 15.2 (slide 22) Page 470
(continued)
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19. Cardiovascular Disease (continued)
Personality and Health:
Type A personality pattern is associated with greater risk of CVD; it includes competitive achievement striving, a sense of time urgency, and, sometimes, hostility or aggressiveness
Some facets of Type A personality (especially hostility) produce higher risk
If a person is already at high risk, personality type does not increase the risk further
Neuroticism and depression may also be predictive
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
C. Cancer
Cancer is the second great killer disease of middle adulthood and old age in industrialized countries
The lifetime probability of Canadians developing cancer is one chance in 2.3 for men and one chance in 2.6 for women
In Canada, men have a 28.2% and women have a 23.9% probability of dying from cancer
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in Canada
The incidence has dropped steadily for men since 1980
For women new cases of lung cancer have jumped nearly four-fold over the past thirty years
Refer to table 15.2 (slide 22) Page 470
(continued)
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Cancer (continued)
Cancer may replace CVD as the # 1 killer of Canadians by 2010
Cancer shares many risk factors with CVD
We can control most risk factors
Dietary fat has been implicated as a risk factor for many types of cancer
Several cancers are infectious
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection linked with several different cancers
Epstein-Barr virus and H. pylori bacteria are linked with several cancers
Safe sex practices, and water treatment in third world countries can decrease cancer risks
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22. Risk Factors for Heart Disease & Cancer
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Risk Factors for Heart Disease & Cancer
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
D. Gender and Health
Women’s life expectancy is greater than men’s
Women live longer, but they have more diseases and disabilities
Men die younger but are healthier while they are alive
Nearly 3 times as many men as women die of heart disease between the ages of 45 and 54
Men are more likely to die of CVD – women’s hearts seem to cope better with the same level of disease
Women are more likely to suffer from nonfatal illnesses like arthritis
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
E. Mental Health
Canadian men and women report improved mental health with increasing age
Self-esteem reportedly peaks between the ages of 35 to 54
About two-thirds of adults diagnosed with serious mental disorders in early adulthood continue to have difficulties in middle age (Meeks, 1997)
Though most addictive disorders begin in adolescence or early adulthood, they frequently go undiagnosed until they become problematic in middle adulthood
See: Development in the Information Age: Is the Internet Addictive?
(continued)
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25. Mental Health (continued)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Mental Health (continued)
Alcohol use disorders:
Canadian men are more likely to be regular heavy drinkers than women (5 or more drinks at least once/month)
The rate of heavy regular drinking peaks during young adulthood, begins to decline between 33 and 44, and then continues to decline
Neurological deficits among alcoholics include problems with memory and language
Alcoholics have increased risk for diseases of many systems (cardiovascular, digestive, immune, muscular, reproductive) and for death
Alcoholism: physical and psychological dependence on alcohol
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26. Development in the Information Age: Is the Internet addictive?
Internet Addictive Disorder, or IAD (Griffiths, 1999).
To be diagnosed with IAD, a person must demonstrate a pattern of Internet use that interferes with normal educational, occupational, and social functioning
To use the term addiction in relation to a specific activity, the activity must have some addictive power; the experience of being online must have the capacity to induce some kind of reinforcing state in users
Excessive Internet use may be part of a behaviour pattern that is consistent across several media; those who are “addicted” to the Internet also spend inordinate amounts of time watching television and playing video games, and are more likely to be addicted to alcohol and other substances
Those opposed to the idea of Internet addiction suggest that excessive time online either is a symptom of another disorder or may simply reflect fascination with a new medium
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27. III. COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
III. COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING
In the middle adult years, some cognitive abilities improve, whereas others slow down a bit
Many adults have acquired large bodies of knowledge and skills that help them compensate for losses and solve problems within their areas of expertise more efficiently than younger adults do
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28. A. A Model of Physical and Cognitive Aging
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
A. A Model of Physical and Cognitive Aging
Nancy Denney proposes that changes with age on nearly any measure of physical or cognitive functioning follow a typical curve
Unexercised abilities will generally have a lower peak level of performance; exercised abilities will generally have a higher peak
Any skill (physical or mental) that is not fully exercised can be improved, even in old age, if the individual begins to exercise that ability
With increasing age a high level of functioning requires more and more effort, until eventually every adult reaches a point at which even maximum effort will no longer maintain peak function
Denney’s model does not reflect individual differences
Refer to Figure 15.5 (next slide) page 476
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29. Denny’s Model of Aging and Performance
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30. B. Health & Cognitive Functioning
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
B. Health & Cognitive Functioning
There are many links between the effects of secondary aging
Exercise may be one of the critical factors in determining an individual person's overall physical health and cognitive performance during middle adulthood
Among physically healthy middle-aged and older adults, those who are more physically active have higher scores on tests of reasoning, reaction time, and short-term memory
Exercise is linked to lower levels of disease and greater longevity
Refer to Figure 15.6 (next slide) page 478
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31. Physical Activity and Mortality Rate
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32. C. Changes in Memory & Cognition
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
C. Changes in Memory & Cognition
Major deficits in memory and cognition do not occur until after ages 60 to 65
Memory Function:
The subjective experience of forgetfulness increases with age
Memory demands of middle-aged adults' everyday lives are greater than for those of young adults
By increasing the use of reminders, or cues, middle-aged adults are proficient at overcoming perceived memory limitations
They are willing to use these cues (in contrast to older adults) because they believe their efforts will make a difference to their memory
(continued)
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33. Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
Memory Function (continued):
Visual memory declines in middle age
Memory for auditory stimuli seems to remain stable throughout adulthood
Performance on more complex tasks declines with age, but usually not until after about age 55
Recognition of words and texts appears to remain stable throughout adulthood
Short term (working) memory capacity stays stable throughout adulthood, but the ability to use this capacity efficiently changes
(continued)
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34. Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
Semantic and Episodic Memory:
Research suggests that episodic memory (the ability to re-experience personal events) slows with age, but not semantic memory (general knowledge of the world, facts, and the meaning of words)
Flashbulb memories (those highly memorable moments of significant events) are not affected by age
(continued)
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Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education Canada

35. Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
Practised and Unpractised Skills:
Most adults maintain or even gain in skills on any task that they practice often or that is based on specific learning
Expertise in a particular field helps to compensate for age-related deficits in cognitive functioning
Performance on unfamiliar tasks decreases with age, but the losses are small until after age 60
(continued)
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36. Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
New Learning:
Middle-aged adults seem to be just as capable as younger adults of learning and remembering new information
Middle-aged students tend to be more academically successful than their younger peers, but this may be due to both motivational differences and the greater amount of background knowledge
While research does not show significant differences in learning new job skills, employers believe young adults outperform older employees in this respect
(continued)
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37. Changes in Memory & Cognition (continued)
Schematic Processing:
In adulthood there is a tendency to shift away from the logical or formal-operational approach to a more pragmatic approach aimed at solving everyday problem (schematic processing)
In memory, this might be reflected in a decline in memory for surface detail, but a compensatory memory for themes or meaning
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
D. Creativity
Simonton identified the age at which notable scientists published their first significant work, their best work, and their last work
In every scientific discipline represented, the thinkers produced their best work at about age 40
Most were publishing significant, even outstanding, research through their 40s and into their 50s
Among musicians or other artists, peak creativity may occur later or be maintained far longer
Refer to “The Real World” Maintaining the Creative Edge in Mid-Life and Beyond
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