CH6 Pt1: Physical & Brain Development Across the Lifespan

PSYC 207 exam 2 material

physical development

• Several developmental topics fall within the physical domain

  • Physical Growth, Neural Development, Sleep Patterns

• Important to remember that development is characterized by:

  • Multi-directional nature (ex. cognitive ability)

  • Cascading, downstream effects (both within & between domains)

birth weight

• Average = 7lbs.

• First days of life…

  • Loss of 5% of birth weight

    • Removal of waste products

    • Adjustment & adapting to feeding reflexes (sucking & swallowing)

birth length

• Average = 19.5in

• Measured from top of head to heel of foot

  • 29.5in by first year

  • 34.4in by second year

physical; childhood

_______ Growth in ______:

• Occurs in spurts

  • Although slower than in infancy

• Not just height & weight

  • Increases in muscular strength & lung capacity

  • Facilitates greater physical activity

• Proportions change

  • Following cephalocaudal principle

Puberty

Process of rapid growth & sexual maturation

• Onset: between 8-14yrs

• Typical Duration: 4yrs

• Adolescent growth spurt inverts prior growth principles

  • Distoproximal: extremities preced torso; ears,nose,lips preced head

  • Caudocephalic: feet preced head

• Substantial growth of internal structures & systems

  • Cardiovascular & Respiratory systems

indicators; puberty

_____ of the Onset of ______:

• Acne

• Gonadarche

Gonadarche

Development of the gonads (ie. sexual reproduction glands)

• Sexual desire

• Emergency of primary & secondary sex characteristics

acne

Occurs when development of sebaceous glands outpace growth of pores

• Pores become blocked with dead skin

• Experienced by 85% of adolescents

  • Higher prevalence among males

• Associated with social distress — easily treatable

  • Medical & Social support

primary sex characteristics

The physical organs and structures present at birth that are directly involved in reproduction

secondary sex characteristics

Physical traits that appear during puberty/sexual maturity to distinguish the sexes of a species

male sex differences

Sex differences become more pronounced during puberty

9-14yrs.

• Primary Sex Characteristics

  • Spermarche

    • Nocturnal

    • Few living sperm

• Secondary Sex Characteristics

  • Broad shoulders

  • Lower voice

  • Coarser, darker body hair

female sex differences

Sex differences become more pronounced during puberty

8-13yrs

• Primary Sex Characteristics

  • Menarche

    • Born with over 400,000 eggs

    • Released every 28 days

• Secondary Sex Characteristics

  • Breast development

  • Widening hips

  • Coarse, darker body hair

early/late bloomers

• Timing in the onset of puberty can vary as a function of…

  • Genetics & Environment

• Factors associated with variation in onset include…

  • Stress: function of excessive cortisol exposure

  • Higher BMI

  • Race: exposure to psychosocial stress

  • Diet: restrictions or nutritional deficits may delay onset

early maturation

Implications of _____ _______

• May be problematic due to a mismatch between…

  • Apparent physical maturity

  • Psychological maturity

• Risk of being perceived as older by peers & adults alike — greater freedom at the cost of higher expectations

• Potential Social Implications…

  • Premature sexualization

  • Harm to existing social connections

  • Perceptions as more imposing

  • Adoption of older peers

• Early maturation also incurs greater risk for psychopathology

late maturation

Implication of ____ _______

• Adolescents who mature later risk…

  • Bullying (smaller, more childlike appearance)

  • Poor self image

  • Harm to peer relationships

  • Increased risk of depression

    • Typically resolve after maturation

• Different implications for males & females

  • Proposed to be protective factor in females

the secular trend

Observed trend of increasingly younger onset of puberty (began in 20th century)

• Amongst American & European adolescents

  • 4 year decrease in onset over the past 150 years

• May reflect effects of industrialization

  • Greater exposure to stress

  • Increased separation from parents

  • Disruptions in circadian rhythm

  • Weight gain

  • Effects of chemicals on endocrine function

hormonal changes

_______ _______ in Adulthood

• Somatopause

• Adrenopause

• Sex-specific Milestones

  • Andropause

  • Menopause

somatopause

Reduction in growth hormone production

adrenopause

Reduction in DHEA (steroid) hormones production in adrenal glands

andropause

Reduction in testosterone production beginning in 30s & 40s

• Approximately 1% reduction in androgen production per year

• Effects include..

  • Fatigue

  • Reduced muscle mass

  • Thinning body hair

  • Breast enlargement

  • Low bone mineral density

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Increases in body fat

  • Low sperm quality

hypogonadism

Decreased productivity of sex hormone glands

• Prevalence

  • Men 45yrs+ = 35%

  • Men w/ underlying condition (T2DM, Obesity) = 30-50%

erectile dysfunction

Persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance

• Risk factors include…

  • Prostate issues

  • Type 2 diabetes & Hypertension

  • Kidney disease

  • Substance use (Tobacco & Alcohol)

  • Chronic stress

  • Depression

  • Poor technique

• Treatment Options

  • Hormone replacement therapy

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Lifestyle changes

Menopause

Decline in estrogen & progesterone levels, resulting in cessation of menstrual cycles in women

• Implications not just for sexual health

  • Associated with higher risk for age-related illness

perimenopause

Extended transitional period preceding menopause

• Characterized by fluctuations of estrogen & progesterone

• Often marked by irregular periods

menopause symptoms

Also peri- symptoms

• Well Known Symptoms…

  • Vasomotor (hot flashes, night sweats)

  • Hair loss

  • Sexual dysfunction (painful intercourse & decreased libido)

• Other Symptoms…

  • Bone loss

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Muscle/joint pain

  • Fatigue & Vertigo

  • Cognitive fog & Migraines

  • Irritability & Mood disorder

  • Tingling extremities

  • Tempo mandibular disorder

individual; menopause

________ Differences in _______

• Average age of onset is 51 years of age

  • Typically range extends from 45 to 55 years of age

• Timing of onset can vary as function of…

  • Genetics

  • BPA exposure

  • Autoimmune disease

  • Nulliparity

• Premature Onset: prior to 40yrs. (increased risk of osteoporosis)

• Late Onset: after 55yrs. (increased risk of hormone dependent cancers)

hormone replacement therapy

• According to the NIH’s Women’s Health Initiative (2002):

  • Increased risk of…

    • Breast cancer

    • Endometrial cancer

    • Colorectal cancer

    • Stroke

    • Hip fracture

  • Corresponding drop in utilization

    • Prior: 25-30%

    • After: 3-4%

• More recent research recommends nuance; consideration of

  • Timing & Duration

  • A decision made between an individual woman and her provider

cultural; menopause

_______ Variation in _______

• Evidence of cultural variation in…

  • Menopause symptomology

  • Attitudes toward menopause

• Relevant cultural factors

  • Minority culture status

  • Religious & cultural attitudes toward aging & gender roles

  • Conceptualization of menopause — medicalization, whether concept even exists

early adulthood

• Mid 20s

• Peak in physical conditioning

  • Strength

  • Sensory ability

  • Cardiac functioning

  • Reaction time

  • Motor skill

  • Lung capacity

  • Reproductive function

middle adulthood

• Mid 30s to Early 40s

• Physical aging more apparent

  • Around 35 — Hair begins to gray

  • Development of wrinkles (drier, less elastic)

  • Reduced immune function (longer recovery)

  • Decline in reproductive capacity

physical; adulthood

______ Change in Late ________

• Proceeding from gray to white, hair follicles…

  • Reduce production of melanin

  • Produce fewer strands, which are smaller & thinner

  • Rates of graying & balding varies depending on genes

• In both sexes, generally a gradual process

  • Sudden dramatic hair loss may be indicative an underlying condition

    • Iron deficiency

    • Hormonal deficiency/imbalance

    • Unmanaged, chronic stress

primary aging

A maturational process, facilitated by…

• DNA modification

• Oxidative damage

• Reduction in cell production & quantity

• Decline in cellular functioning

secondary aging

Aging facilitated by environmental factors

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Diet

• Substance use

• Disease

Baltimore; aging

_____ Longitudinal Study of _____

• Followed 3,200 adults from 22 to 99 years of age

  • Goal: distinguish effects of primary & secondary aging

• Measures effects of physical exertion on…

  • Heart rate

  • Ambulatory efficiency & endurance

  • Balance & coordination

• Findings…

  • Maturation does NOT inherently lead to disease

  • There is no universal trajectory of aging

theories of aging

• Programmed theories

• Damage/Error Theories

• Evolutionary theories

• Gene regulation theory

• mtDNA theory

• Cellular damage theory

• Neuroendocrine theory

programmed theories

Frame aging as a maturational process

Damage error theories

Frame aging as incidental environmental damage

antagonistic pleiotropy

Theory of ______ ________

Based in concept of evolutionary tradeoffs between longevity & reproduction

gene regulation theory

Theory that proposes a “longevity gene”; informed by centenarian studies

mtDNA theory

Theory of aging based in dysfunction of mitochondrial DNA

Cellular theory

Theory of aging that emphasizes changes in telomere length

DNA damage theory

Theory of aging that emphasizes environmental damage to DNA integrity

neuroendocrine theory

Theory of aging based in chronic exposure to elevated cortisol

free radical theory

Theory of aging based in accumulation of byproducts of cellular functioning