Tâm lý học - Chapter 17: Physical development in late adulthood

Life-Span Development Thirteenth EditionChapter 17: Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved1Life Expectancy and Life SpanLife Span: the maximum number of years an individual can live; has remained between 120–125 yearsLife Expectancy: the number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably liveHas increased an average of 30 years since 1900Average life expectancy today is 77.6 yearsLongevity©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved2Life Expectancy and Life Span Differences in Life ExpectancyJapan has highest life expectancy (82 years)Differences in life expectancy across countries are due to factors such as health conditions and medical careEthnic DifferencesLife expectancy for African Americans is 7 years lower than that of non-Latino WhitesFemale life expectancy 80.7 years, males 75.4 yearsLongevity©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved3Life Expectancy and Life Span CentenariansIncreasing by approximately 7% each yearExplanations:DietLow-stress lifestyleCaring communityActivitySpiritualityLongevity©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved4The Young-Old, the Old-Old, and the Oldest-Old Some developmentalists divide late adulthood:Young-old are aged 65 to 74Old-old are aged 75 or moreOldest-old are aged 85 or moreImportant to consider functional age, the person’s actual ability to function, rather than ageLongevity©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved5Biological Theories of AgingEvolutionary TheoryCellular Clock TheoryFree-Radical TheoryMitochondrial TheoryHormonal Stress TheoryLongevity©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved6The Aging Brain The Shrinking, Slowing BrainOn average, the brain loses 5% to 10% of its weight between the ages of 20 and 90 years; brain volume also decreasesMay result from a decrease in dendrites, damage to myelin sheath, or the death of brain cellsA general slowing of function in the brain and spinal cord begins in middle adulthood and accelerates in late adulthood affecting physical coordination and intellectual performanceAging has been linked to a reduction in the production of certain neurotransmittersThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved7The Aging BrainThe Adapting BrainAs the brain ages, it adapts in several ways:Neurogenesis: the generation of new brain cellsDendritic growth can occur in human adultsOlder brains rewire to compensate for lossesHemispheric lateralization can decrease; may improve cognitive functioningThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved8The Course of Physical Development in Late AdulthoodThe Adapting Brain©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved9The Immune System The immune system declines in functioning with ageExtended duration of stress; diminished restorative processesMalnutrition involving low levels of proteinExercise improves the immune system, and influenza vaccination is very important for older adultsThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved10Physical Appearance and Movement Wrinkles and age spots are the most noticeable changesPeople get shorter with aging due to bone loss in their vertebraeWeight typically drops after we reach age 60; likely because we lose muscleAdequate mobility is an important aspect of maintaining an independent and active lifestyle in late adulthoodThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved11The Course of Physical Development in Late AdulthoodPhysical Appearance and Movement©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved12The Course of Physical Development in Late AdulthoodPhysical Appearance and Movement©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved13Sensory Development VisionDecline in vision becomes more pronouncedAdaptation to dark and driving at night becomes especially difficultColor vision and depth perception also declineThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved14The Course of Physical Development in Late AdulthoodSensory Development©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved15Sensory Development Diseases of the EyeCataracts: a thickening of the lens of the eye that causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distortedGlaucoma: damage to the optic nerve because of the pressure created by a buildup of fluid in the eyeMacular Degeneration: deterioration of the macula of the retina, which corresponds to the focal center of the visual fieldThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved16Sensory Development Hearing:Hearing impairments are typical in late adulthoodHearing aids and cochlear implants can minimize the problems linked to hearing lossSmell and Taste:Smell and taste losses typically begin about age 60Touch and Pain:Slight decline in touch sensitivity and sensitivity to pain with ageThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved17The Circulatory System and Lungs Cardiovascular disorders increase in late adulthoodHigh blood pressure can be linked with illness, obesity, anxiety, stiffening of blood vessels, or lack of exercise and should be treatedLung capacity drops 40% between the ages of 20 and 80, even without disease, but can be improved with diaphragm-strengthening exercisesThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved18SexualityOrgasm becomes less frequent in males with ageMany older adults are sexually active as long as they are healthyVarious therapies have been effective for older adults who report sexual difficultiesThe Course of Physical Development in Late Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved19The Course of Physical Development in Late AdulthoodSexuality©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved20Health ProblemsProbability of having some disease or illness increases with ageArthritis is the most common followed by hypertensionHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved21HealthHealth Problems©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved22Health Problems Causes of Death in Older AdultsNearly 60% of 65–74-year-olds die of cancer or cerebrovascular disease; for 75–84 and 85+ age groups, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of deathEthnicity is also linked with death rates of older adultsHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved23Health©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved24Health ProblemsArthritis: an inflammation of the joints accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problemsOsteoporosis: extensive loss of bone tissueAccidents: 6th leading cause of death in older adultsHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved25Substance Use and AbuseMultiple medications can increase the risks associated with consuming alcohol or other drugsMajority of U.S. adults 65 and older completely abstain from alcoholSubstance abuse among older adults may be an “invisible epidemic”Health26Substance Use and AbuseLate-Onset Alcoholism: onset of alcoholism after the age of 65Often related to loneliness, loss of a spouse, or a disabling conditionModerate drinking of red wine is linked to better health and increased longevityHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved27Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight ExerciseImproves older adults’ cellular functioning and immune system functioningLinked to increased longevity and prevention of common chronic diseasesAssociated with improvement in the treatment of many diseasesHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved28Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight ExerciseCan optimize body composition and reduce the decline in motor skills as aging occursReduces the likelihood that older adults will develop mental health problemsLinked to improved brain and cognitive functioningHealth29Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight Nutrition and WeightSome older adults restrict their dietary intake in a way that may be harmful to their healthDecreased snacking between meals may contribute to harmful weight lossCalorie restriction has been proven to extend the life span of certain animals, but it is not known if this works in humansHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved30 Exercise, Nutrition, and WeightThe Controversy over Vitamins and AgingNew research suggests that antioxidants may help slow the aging process and possibly prevent some diseasesThere is now more interest in the possible link between vitamins and cognitive performance in older adultsHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved31Health Treatment Some studies show older adults in the U.S. receive the recommended medical care only half the timeMany specialists recommend alternatives, such as home health care, elder-care centers, and preventative medicine clinicsPatient’s feelings of control and self-determination are important for health and survival in nursing homesHealth©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved32HealthHealth Treatment©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved33