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Adult Developmental and Aging Exam 1

Key Concepts in Aging

  • Chronological Age – Number of years a person has lived.

  • Biological Age – Functional status of the body compared to peers.

  • Psychological Age – Cognitive ability, adaptability, and emotional regulation.

  • Social Age – How well an individual meets societal expectations for their age.

  • Functional Age – Assessed by daily activities and societal roles.

  • Subjective Age – The age a person feels rather than their actual age.

  • Young-old (65-74), Old-old (75-84), Oldest-old (85+) – Categorization of older adults based on functional ability rather than just years lived.

Theories of Aging

  • Biological Theories: Focus on genetics and physiological decline.

    • Time Clock Theory – Genetic blueprint determines lifespan via telomere shortening.

    • Immune Theory – Aging occurs due to a decline in immune system efficiency.

    • Wear and Tear Theory – The body deteriorates over time with repeated use.

    • Error Theory – Cellular malfunctions accumulate, leading to aging.

    • Free Radical Theory – Unstable molecules damage cells, accelerating aging.

  • Psychosocial Theories: Examine emotional, social, and personality changes.

    • Disengagement Theory – Older adults naturally withdraw from society.

    • Activity Theory – Staying engaged leads to better aging outcomes.

    • Continuity Theory – Individuals maintain habits and personality traits as they age.

  • Developmental Theories: Consider aging as a lifelong process.

    • Selective Optimization with Compensation – Older adults adjust to aging by focusing on strengths, optimizing key skills, and compensating for declines.

    • Ecological Model of Aging – Interaction between individual competence and environmental pressures affects aging outcomes.

Research Methods in Aging

  • Cross-Sectional Studies – Compare different age groups at one point in time (risk: cohort effects).

  • Longitudinal Studies – Follow the same individuals over time (risk: attrition).

  • Sequential Studies – Combine cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches to mitigate weaknesses.

  • Experimental Research – Establishes cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating variables.

  • Correlational Studies – Identify relationships but cannot prove causation.

Demographics of Aging

  • The "Graying" of the Population – Due to increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates.

  • Gender Differences – More older women than men (125:100 ratio).

  • Living Arrangements –

    • 33% of older women live alone,

    • 50% live with a spouse,

    • 17% live in other arrangements.

  • Education & Aging – Older adults today have more education than previous generations.

Ageism

  • Definition – Prejudice or discrimination against older adults.

  • Common Stereotypes – Older adults are frail, forgetful, or resistant to change.

  • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy – Negative beliefs can impact cognitive and physical health.

  • Combatting Ageism – Use person-first language ("older adults" instead of "elderly").

Cognitive Aging & Attention

  • Reaction Time Decline – More pronounced in complex tasks than simple ones.

  • Types of Attention:

    • Sustained Attention (Vigilance) – Monitoring for changes in a stable environment (remains relatively intact).

    • Divided Attention – Multitasking ability declines with age.

    • Selective Attention – Difficulty ignoring distractions increases with age.

  • Theories of Cognitive Aging:

    • Processing Speed Theory – Slower cognitive processing with age.

    • Inhibitory Deficit Hypothesis – Older adults struggle to ignore irrelevant information.

    • Frontal Lobe Hypothesis – Age-related declines in executive functioning.

Memory & Aging

  • Types of Memory:

    • Working Memory – Declines with age (temporary storage and manipulation of info).

    • Episodic Memory – Declines with age (memory for personal experiences).

    • Semantic Memory – Remains stable (general knowledge and vocabulary).

    • Procedural Memory – Remains stable (skills and habits, e.g., riding a bike).

    • Prospective Memory – Declines with age (remembering future tasks).

Hearing & Aging

  • Presbycusis – Age-related hearing loss, mainly affecting high-frequency sounds.

  • Phonemic Regression – Hearing a word but struggling to understand it.

  • Compensatory Strategies – Use of hearing aids, reading lips, and environmental modifications.

The Scaffolding Theory of Aging & Cognition (STAC)

  • Concept – The brain builds alternative neural pathways to compensate for aging-related declines.

  • Supports for Scaffolding – Physical exercise, mental stimulation, and lifelong learning.

Maximizing Longevity

  • Lifestyle Factors:

    • Abstaining from smoking and excessive alcohol.

    • Engaging in regular physical activity.

    • Maintaining a balanced diet (low processed foods, high in nutrients).

    • Staying socially active and mentally engaged.

    • Managing stress effectively.

Common Causes of Death in Older Adults (2023 CDC)

  1. Heart Disease

  2. Cancer

  3. Accidents

  4. COVID-19

  5. Stroke

Aging & Everyday Functioning

  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Basic self-care tasks (e.g., dressing, eating).

  • Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): More complex tasks (e.g., managing money, cooking).

Communication with Older Adults

  • Elderspeak:

    • Simplified grammar, exaggerated tone, slower speech.

    • Can be patronizing and reduce self-esteem.

    • Alternative: Use respectful, normal-paced communication.

Major Aging Frameworks

  • Life-Span Developmental Perspective (Baltes, 1987):

    • Aging is a lifelong process.

    • Embedded in historical and social contexts.

    • Includes both gains and losses.

    • Plasticity (ability to change and adapt).

    • Multidimensional and multidirectional.

  • Developmental DOPE Model:

    • Describe – Observe patterns in aging.

    • Optimize – Improve well-being.

    • Predict – Anticipate changes.

    • Explain – Understand causes of aging patterns.

Final Study Tips

  1. Memorize Key Terms & Definitions – Many questions will test your understanding of concepts like functional age, scaffolding, and presbycusis.

  2. Understand Theories – Be able to differentiate between biological, psychosocial, and developmental aging theories.

  3. Know Research Methods – Expect questions comparing cross-sectional, longitudinal, and sequential studies.

  4. Apply Concepts to Real Life – Think about how aging theories explain everyday situations.

  5. Practice Multiple-Choice & Short Answer Questions – This will help with recall and application.