Day 23- late adulthood biosocial and cognitive development

the world’s aging population

increasing number of individuals aged 65+

• In the United States = 15% of the population

Why is the age structure of the population challenging?

• fewer babies are being born

• many young children do not die

• serious illness in adulthood are not always fatal

maximum life span

oldest possible age that a species can attain

• humans = 122 years

average life expectancy

average life span for individuals in a specific group

• Individuals born today in the US = about 78-79 years

sex difference in average life expectancy

males—about 76 years

females- a little more than 81 years

life expectancy—these differences may be due to

• health and habits

• attitudes

• lifestyles

• occupation

• biological factors

young-old

65-74 years old

• largest group; healthy, active, financially secure, independent

old-old

75-84 years

• some losses (body, mind), but some strengths

oldest-old

85+ years

• smallest group; dependent on others; illness and injury

the oldest-old

• female

• higher rates of morbidity (diseases) and a greater incidence of disability

• living in institutions

• less likely to be married

• more likely to have low educational attainment

the oldest-old - How might one live this long?

• diet

• work

• family and community

• exercise and relaxation

biosocial development—physical appearance and shape

• skin

• hair

  • correlates most with chronological age

• shorter and lighter

• redistribution of fat

  • gone: arms, legs, upper face

  • appear: torso, lower face

• muscle loss and stiffness

sensory changes- touch

in particular: fingers and toes

sensory changes—taste

in particular: sour and bitter

sensory changes- vison

visual deficits are common

serious visions deficits are

cataracts

• thinking of the lens

glaucoma

• buildup of fluid in eye

macular degeneration

• deterioration of the retina

visual compensation

• eyeglasses

• video cameras connected ot the brain

• brighter lights

• larger/darker print

• audio devices

• guide dogs

• canes

sensory changes - hearing deficits

pressbycusis

• age related hearing loss

tinnitus

• buzzing or rhythmic ringing in ears

hearing compensation

• hearing aids (ageism may be an issue)

driving in adulthood

older adults believe they are good drivers

• competent drivers could continue with appropriate compensation

challenges to driving due to age-related changes

• take longer to read road signs

• turn head with more difficulty

• reaction time is slower

• night vision worsens

major body systems changes

• heart pumps more slowly

• vascular network less flexible

• lungs less effective

• digestive system slows

• kidneys less effective

more common major body changes

• chronic health conditions

• longer recovery from illnesses or accidents

theory 1: wear and tear

bodies wear out over time

• misuse and disuse rather than wearing out

theory 1: wear and tear—WHY?

• overuse

• weather, harmful food, pollution or radiation

theory 1: wear and tear—HOWEVER

• the body can self-repair

• activity can improve health

theory 2: genetic aging

the human genome and individuals genes

• contribution to longevity

  • about 1/3 of genes directly

  • about 2/3 epigentic and enviromental factors

max life span vs. average life expectancy

• genes regulate life, growth, and aging

theory 3: cellular aging

normal cell duplication

• Minor errors in the duplication process may accumulate

immune system

• early: can repair errors

• Later: unable to repair all errors

ageing

• cellular errors are no longer able to be repaired

Healthy cells stop replicating

• hayflick limit

new brain cells—excitement

• new neruons form in adulthood

• dendrites grow with new experiences

• dendrite grow with antidepressant use

new brain cells—excitement tempered

• brain growth is slow and limited in late adulthood

• medical treatment may destroy neurons

• Replacement neurons are unable to restore earlier states of functioning

senescence and the brain—slower thinking

• reduced neurotransmitter production

• decreased neural fluid

• myelin thins

• slower circulaiton of cerebral blood

senescence and the brain—impact of slower thinking

SLOWER

• reaction time

• movement

• speech

• thought

senesecence and the brain- smaller brain

in paricular

• hippocampus

• prefrontal cortex

senesecence and the brain- what is reduced

• grey matter (processing of new experiences)

• white matter (processing speed)

variation in brain efficiency

• High SES correlates with less cognitive decline

hypotheses

• Higher IQs at the start of late adulthood so the declines are not as noticeable

• more educated, more likely to keep active minds

• Higher IQ is associated with a healthier life

• support for all three hypotheses

input: sensation - sensory memory

sensory register

• small reductions

  • less adapt: repeating words, holding an afterimage

input: sensation - sensory threshold

what is sensed versus not sensed

• significant decline of sense crossing

• Some sensations are never perceived, which impairs cognition.

role of working memory

stores info, process info

• declines with age

why working memory

• cant screen out distractions or irrelevant thoughts

• declines in total mental activity

role of long term memory

unimpaired in older ages:

• vocab

• areas of expertise

what is remebered better over time?

• happy events between ages 10-30

• emotion of events (rather than facts)

source amnesia

common

• know they learned something but don't know from who

control process—most impairment due to aging

deficits in:

• planning ahead

• logical analysis and decision-making

• retrieval strategies

explicit memory

impaired

• learned info, consious recall

implicit memory

relatively impaired

• automatic memory, unconscious recall

primary aging

• brain slowdown

• terminal shutdown

secondary aging

• disease

• poor health habits

• mental health issues

new cognitive development

• aesthetic sense and creativity

• live review

  • a way to put their lives into perspective: accomplishments and failures

• wisdom

  • broad, practical, comprehensive approach to lifes problems

  • contributes to wisdom: experience and practice

ageism

negative stereotypes expressed about older adults

Problem 1:

• may appear benevolent or complimentary

Problem 2:

• may decrease feelings of competence

• contribute to anxiety, morbidity, and/ or mortality

Ageism can become self-fulfilling in 3 ways

• treated as frail, becomes dependent

• use “young“ norms and try to “fix“ the aged, give up if fail to “fix“ them

• older adults may give up if they believe age makes them week, age faster.

what contributes to a good mental health and physical health in late adulthood?

when older adults belive they are

• independent

• in control of own life

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

Most common cause of major NCD; gradual deterioration of memory and personality, linked to plaques (beta-amyloid) and tangles (tau) in the brain.

Vascular neurocognitive disorder (formerly “vascular dementia” / “multi-infarct dementia”)

Caused by repeated infarcts or issues that prevent sufficient blood flow to brain — leads to progressive intellectual decline.

Frontotemporal neurocognitive disorder (frontotemporal NCD)

Involves deterioration in frontal lobe and amygdala, affecting personality, behavior, and emotional regulation — accounts for a portion of major NCDs.

Parkinson’s disease (when leading to NCD)

A chronic progressive disease characterized by motor symptoms (tremor, rigidity) and sometimes cognitive decline when NCD develops.

Lewy body disease (as a form of NCD)

Involves abnormal protein deposits (“Lewy bodies”) in the brain, leading to symptoms like visual hallucinations, fluctuations in attention, memory problems, possible falls or fainting, and cognitive decline.

NCD

It is a term used in psychology and medicine to describe brain disorders that cause a significant decline in cognitive abilities, such as:

• memory

• reasoning

• decision-making

• language

• attention

• social understanding