Chapter 17 Notes: Late Adulthood - Physical and Cognitive Development

Introduction

  • The last week of class evokes mixed emotions: excitement and apprehension.
  • The lecture will cover physical and cognitive aspects of late adulthood and briefly touch on death and dying.

Announcements

  • Chapter 15 and 16 quiz was due today.
  • The lowest three quiz grades are dropped.
  • The last quiz covers chapters 18 and 19 and has unlimited attempts with immediate answer availability.
  • Answers for quizzes on chapters 13 and 14 are now visible.

Exam 4

  • The exam 4 plans assignment counts toward participation.
  • The instructor is flexible with the chosen test date.
  • Exam times:
    • Monday: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
    • Thursday: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
  • The exam will have 50 multiple-choice questions.
  • Review videos and a practice quiz will be available until next Thursday night.
  • Take the practice quiz before the exam.

Course Evaluations

  • Course evaluations are due next Thursday night.
  • Submitting evidence of completion earns two percentage points on the final exam 4 score.
  • Acceptable evidence includes:
    • Survey certificate of completion from the evaluation kit administrator.
    • Screenshot showing your name and the current semester (2024).
    • A picture with your phone.
  • Feedback is appreciated for course improvement.

Personal Announcement

  • The instructor's youngest child, Isaac, turned three years old today (April 22nd, Earth Day).

Introduction to Late Adulthood

  • An audio clip from the Longest Shortest Time podcast features a 100-year-old woman discussing the realities of aging.
  • She mentions declining physical abilities, such as difficulty with digestion, diminished taste, poor eyesight and hearing, lack of strength, and weight loss.
  • Aging involves psychological challenges like dealing with the loss of loved ones.

Initial iClicker Question

  • A one word response about what comes to mind when they imagine themselves getting older.
  • Responses varied from negative (decrepit, saggy, painful, bored, cranky) to positive (wiser, wise, fulfilled, carefree, gardening, patriarch) to neutral (retiring, Botox).
  • Culture often portrays aging negatively.
  • The instructor feels hopeful and scared about aging, representing uncertainty.

Physical Changes: The Brain

  • The brain becomes smaller and lighter with age, though structure and function are generally maintained without disease.
  • The reduction in size may be due to neuron death or thinning, possibly a combination of both.
  • Brain shrinkage leads to increased space between the brain and skull, raising the risk of concussions and brain bleeding from falls.
  • Elderly brains are similar to infant brains in having extra space, increasing the potential for brain damage.
  • Blood flow to the brain decreases due to the heart's reduced capacity to pump blood.
  • Hardening and shrinking of blood vessels increase the heart's workload.
  • Plaque buildup in blood vessels increases the risk of stroke and blood clots.
  • Reduction in white matter contributes to brain shrinkage.
  • White matter (myelin sheath and glial cells) insulates nerve cells and speeds up message transmission between neurons.
  • MRI images show white matter loss in an elderly rhesus monkey compared to a younger one.
  • Multiple sclerosis damages white matter through inflammation, causing motor movement deterioration.
  • White matter peaks in middle age (around the fifties) and declines in late adulthood.
  • Gray matter also declines in some brain regions with age.
  • Research varies regarding cell loss in the brain cortex, with some suggesting minimal loss or even continued neuronal growth.
  • Cardiovascular exercise is associated with increased brain density in areas susceptible to aging.
  • A six month study by Kolcolm et al. demonstrated increases in gray and white matter volumes with aerobic fitness training in older adults.
  • Unhealthy lifestyles can accelerate declines in white matter volume.
  • Physical fitness benefits both physical and mental functioning.
  • Maintaining endurance throughout life makes it easier to stay physically active later in life.

iClicker Question

  • Question: What is a typical change observed in the brain during healthy aging?
  • Correct Answer: B, the brain becomes smaller and lighter.
  • General rule: