Lifespan Development Module 10 Late Adulthood Module Learning

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Lifespan Development Module # 10: Late Adulthood

Lifespan Development Module # 10: Late Adulthood

Module Learning Outcomes Explain development and change through late adulthood 10. 1: Describe physical

Module Learning Outcomes Explain development and change through late adulthood 10. 1: Describe physical changes in late adulthood 10. 2: Explain cognitive development in late adulthood 10. 3: Describe psychosocial development in late adulthood

Physical Development in Late Adulthood

Physical Development in Late Adulthood

Learning Outcomes: Physical Development in Late Adulthood 10. 1: Describe physical changes in late

Learning Outcomes: Physical Development in Late Adulthood 10. 1: Describe physical changes in late adulthood 10. 1. 1: Describe age categories of late adulthood 10. 1. 2: Explain factors contributing to longer life expectancies 10. 1. 3: Describe primary aging, including vision and hearing loss 10. 1. 4: Explain secondary aging concerns that are common in late adulthood, including illnesses and diseases 10. 1. 5: Describe and compare theories of aging

Defining Late Adulthood • We are considered to be in late adulthood by the

Defining Late Adulthood • We are considered to be in late adulthood by the time we reach out mid-sixties • • • until death About 15. 2% of the U. S. population or 49. 2 million Americans are 65 and older with the number expected to grow to 98. 2 million by 2060 Developmentalists divide this population based on one’s functional age with the “young old” being healthy and active, the “old old” experiencing some health problems, and the “oldest old” are frail Normal aging refers to those who seem to have the same health and social concerns as most of those in the population Impaired aging refers to those who experience poor health and dependence to a greater extent than would be considered normal Selective Optimization with Compensation is a strategy for improving health and well being in older adults and a model for successful aging Promoting health and independence are essential for successful aging

Age Categories • Senescence, or biological aging is the gradual deterioration of functional •

Age Categories • Senescence, or biological aging is the gradual deterioration of functional • • • characteristics The Young Old (65 to 74): having good or excellent health is reported by 41% of this age group • They are less likely to require long-term care, to be dependent or poor, and are more likely to be married, working for pleasure, and living independently • Physical activity tends to decrease with age though this age group is less likely to experience heart disease, cancer, or stroke than the old The Old (75 to 84): this age group is more likely to experience limitations on physical activity due to chronic disease such and hearing or visual impairments The Oldest Old (85 +): this group is more likely to require long-term care and to be in nursing homes or living with relatives

The Centenarians • Centenarians are people aged 100 or older and are • •

The Centenarians • Centenarians are people aged 100 or older and are • • both rare and distinct from the rest of the older population The number of centenarians is expected to increase to 601, 000 by the year 2050 Most of the current centenarians live in Japan and have led varied lives and do not provide answers about living longer Blue zone research are regions of the world where researchers claim that people live much longer than average People living in the blue zones share characteristics: family, less smoking, semivegetarianism, constant moderate physical activity, social engagement, legume consumption

The “Graying” Population and Life Expectancy • • • The American population is becoming

The “Graying” Population and Life Expectancy • • • The American population is becoming more dominated by older people with the median age of Americans going up By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65 and the population is expected to grow at a slower pace and become more racially and ethnically diverse Although births are projected to be nearly four times larger than the net international migration in coming decades, deaths will increasingly offset how much births contribute to population growth By 2050, Slovenia and Bulgaria are projected to be the oldest European countries though Japan will retain its oldest nation status through at least 2050 Life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live based on year of birth, current age, and other demographic factors Life expectancy in the U. S. is currently 78. 7 years (76. 3 for men and 81. 1 for women)

Understanding Life Expectancy • • Quality of life is the general well-being of individuals

Understanding Life Expectancy • • Quality of life is the general well-being of individuals and societies, outlining negative and positive features of life Greater attention is now being given to the number of years a person can expect to live without disability, or active life expectancy Stress can decrease life expectancy while social support can increase longevity Positive sexual health in older age is gradually becoming a more common topic an acts as a de-stressor promoting increased relaxation Sexual health and expression reflects a physical, mental, and emotional need that affects individual health and intimacy quality for older couples’ relationships with Older adults can expect to live longer by exercising, reducing stress, not smoking, limiting use of alcohol, consuming more fruits and vegetables, and eating less meat and dairy Stress reduction both in late adulthood and earlier in life is crucial

Health in Late Adulthood: Primary Aging • The Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA)

Health in Late Adulthood: Primary Aging • The Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA) began in 1958, tracing the aging process in 1, 400 people from age 20 to 90 • The BLSA found that the aging process varies significantly between individuals and form one organ system to another with much determined by genetics, lifestyle, and disease • Primary aging is the process by which cells irreversible stop dividing and enter a state of permanent growth arrest without undergoing cell death • Primary aging refers to the inevitable changes associated with aging to the skin and hair, height and weight, hearing, and eyes • Skin and hair: skin becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic with scars and imperfections more noticeable and hair graying and loss more prevalent • Height and weight: older people are more than an inch shorter than during early adulthood and often weigh less than in mid-life due to loss of bone density and muscle loss

Primary Aging, continued • Vision issues that arise impact the lens and optic nerve

Primary Aging, continued • Vision issues that arise impact the lens and optic nerve and make it harder to see in situations that were previously unaffected • Glaucoma: when pressure in the fluid of the eye increases • Cataracts: cloudy or opaque areas of the lens of the eye that interfere with passing light • Macular degeneration: most common cause of blindness in people over 60 • Diabetic retinopathy: damage occurs to the retina due to diabetes mellitus

Hearing • Hearing loss is experienced by 30% of people age 70 and older

Hearing • Hearing loss is experienced by 30% of people age 70 and older with almost half of people over 85 having some hearing loss • Conductive hearing loss: may occur because of age, genetic predisposition, or environment and involves structural damage to the ear • Sensorineural hearing loss is due to a failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea to the brain and can be caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises • Temporal theory of pitch perception is the sound’s frequency coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron • Presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss resulting from degeneration of the cochlea or associated structures of the inner ear or auditory nerves

Hearing, continued • Ménière’s disease results in a degeneration of inner ear structures that

Hearing, continued • Ménière’s disease results in a degeneration of inner ear structures that can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus (constant ringing or buzzing), vertigo (a sense of spinning)and increased pressure • Cochlear implants, a treatment option for Ménière’s disease, are electronic devices that receive incoming sound information and stimulates the auditory nerve to transmit the information to the brain • People may use elderspeak or patronizing form of speech when talking with older adults

Nutrition • The Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) is one

Nutrition • The Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) is one of six human nutrition research centers with the goal of exploring the relationship between nutrition, physical activity, and healthy and active aging • Research clusters within the HNRCA address four specific strategic areas: • Cancer • Cardiovascular disease • Inflammation, immunity, and infectious disease • Obesity • Research in nutrition has demonstrated the impact of diet upon longevity and quality of life • Primary aging can be compensated for through exercise, corrective lenses, nutrition, and hearing aids

Health in Late Adulthood: Secondary Aging • Secondary aging refers to changes that are

Health in Late Adulthood: Secondary Aging • Secondary aging refers to changes that are caused by illness or disease and impact independence, quality of life, family members, and bring a financial burden • Heart disease is the leading cause of death from chronic disease for adults older than 65 with a variety of underlying mechanisms and about 90% preventable when improving risk factors • Age is one of the most important risk factors for developing cancer with prostate and lung cancer common in men and breast and lung cancer common in women • Older adults with cancer have different needs than younger adults • Hypertension, high blood pressure and associated heart disease and circulatory conditions, increases with age • Stroke is a leading cause of death and severe long-term disability

Secondary Aging, continued • Arthritis is used to mean any disorder that affects joints

Secondary Aging, continued • Arthritis is used to mean any disorder that affects joints • There are over 100 types of arthritis with the most common forms being osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis • Type 2 diabetes (T 2 D) is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin • T 2 D primarily occurs as a result of obesity and lack of exercise with lifestyle a major factor • Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone weakening increase the risk of a broken bone and becomes more common with age • Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system mainly affecting the motor system • Causes of Parkinson’s disease are generally unknown, but both genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved

Theories on Aging • The peripheral slowing hypothesis suggests that overall processing speed declines

Theories on Aging • The peripheral slowing hypothesis suggests that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system, impacting the brain’s ability to communicate with muscles and organs • The generalized slowing hypothesis suggests that there is less efficient processing in all parts of the nervous system as we age • Hayflick limit refers to the limited number of times cells divide and then stop (human cells can divide about 50 times before stopping) • Telomere theory suggests that telomeres (the protective area(s) or tip of the DNA) also shorten with each successive cell division • Senescent cells do not die but stop replicating and can limit the growth of other cells which may promote the growth of tumors as we age

Biochemistry and Aging • Free radical theory of aging (FRTA): organisms age because cells

Biochemistry and Aging • Free radical theory of aging (FRTA): organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time • Free radicals are any atom or molecule with a single unpaired electron in an outer shell • Unpaired electrons are a by-product of oxygen metabolization and can cause cellular damage as they bond with other electrons • Protein crosslinking focuses on the role glucose plays in aging cells and the crosslinks formed when molecules attach themselves to proteins, reducing the flexibility of tissue (and therefore functioning) • DNA is damaged through the normal growth and aging process, resulting in errors that can accumulate and reduce cell and tissue functioning • B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes become less active and the thymus shrinks as aging progresses, reducing the body’s ability to fight infection

Practice Question 1 Aging that involves universal and irreversible changes that, due to genetic

Practice Question 1 Aging that involves universal and irreversible changes that, due to genetic programming, occur as people get older is called _____. A. B. C. D. primary aging. secondary aging. intrinsic aging. extrinsic aging.

Practice Question 2 When a cell’s _____ have just about disappeared, the cell stops

Practice Question 2 When a cell’s _____ have just about disappeared, the cell stops replicating, making it susceptible to damage and producing signs of aging. (This term describes the part of the protective area(s) or tip of the DNA that grow(s) shorter every time the cell divides. ) A. B. C. D. chromosomes free radicals telomeres B-lymphocytes

Cognitive Development and Memory in Late Adulthood

Cognitive Development and Memory in Late Adulthood

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Development and Memory in Late Adulthood 10. 2: Explain cognitive development

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Development and Memory in Late Adulthood 10. 2: Explain cognitive development in late adulthood 10. 2. 1: Discuss the impact of aging on memory 10. 2. 2: Explain how age impacts cognitive functioning 10. 2. 3: Describe abnormal memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease, delirium, and dementia

How Does Aging Affect Memory? • Aging may create small decrements in the sensitivity

How Does Aging Affect Memory? • Aging may create small decrements in the sensitivity of the senses, resulting in difficulty hearing and seeing and not storing that information in memory • Working memory is a cognitive system with a limited capacity that holds information for processing temporarily • As we age, working memory loses some capacity making it difficult to concentrate on more than one thing at a time or remembering details • Working memory is among the cognitive function most sensitive to decline in old age thought to either be due to slowing or because of inhibition of irrelevant information (inhibition theory) • Long-term memory involves the storage of information for long periods • The memory of adults of all ages seems to be similar, but older adults rely more on external and meaningful cues to recall information

New Research on Aging and Cognition • The ACTIVE study found support that the

New Research on Aging and Cognition • The ACTIVE study found support that the brain can be trained to build • • • cognitive reserve to reduce the effects of normal aging Older adults generally have greater emotional wisdom or the ability to emphasize with and understand others Older adults show significant impairments on attentional tasks such as looking at a visual cue while listening to an auditory cue Older adults do not generally show impairment on tasks that test sustained attention Attentional deficits can have a significant impact on adequate and independent functioning, seen in tasks like driving Problem solving tasks that require processing non-meaningful information quickly also decline with age

Cognitive Function in Late Adulthood • Dementia, severely impaired judgment, memory, or problem-solving ability

Cognitive Function in Late Adulthood • Dementia, severely impaired judgment, memory, or problem-solving ability • • • can occur before old age and is not inevitable Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is incurable while other nonorganic causes of dementia can be prevented Delirium (acute confused state) is an organically caused decline from a previous baseline functioning that develops over a short time period and can involve other neurological deficits Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior and will develop slowly and worsen over time Common symptoms include emotional problems, difficulties with language, and a decrease in motivation Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging and the cause is poorly understood

Class Activity: Protecting Cognitive Function • At what age would you consider a person

Class Activity: Protecting Cognitive Function • At what age would you consider a person to be elderly? Has the definition of elderly shifted over time? If so, why? • What are ways to support cognitive function as you age? Use your text and outside resources to identify useful practical activities to reduce cognitive deficits due to aging. • Get in groups and discuss your ideas.

Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood

Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood

Learning Outcomes: Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood 10. 3: Describe psychosocial development in late

Learning Outcomes: Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood 10. 3: Describe psychosocial development in late adulthood 10. 3. 1: Describe theories related to late adulthood, including Erikson’s psychosocial stage of integrity vs. despair 10. 3. 2: Describe examples of productivity in late adulthood 10. 3. 3: Describe attitudes about aging 10. 3. 4: Examine family relationships during late adulthood (including grandparenting, marriage, divorce, and widowhood)

Psychosocial Development • Integrity vs. Despair (Erikson): The goal is integrity, consisting of the

Psychosocial Development • Integrity vs. Despair (Erikson): The goal is integrity, consisting of the ability to • • look back over life with a feeling of satisfaction, peace, and gratitude • Despair occurs when a person looks back at one’s life as unproductive and is dissatisfied Activity theory supports the avoidance of a sedentary lifestyle and considers it essential to health and happiness that the older person remains active physically and socially Disengagement theory emphasizes that older adults should not be discourage from following their inclination towards solitude and greater inactivity rather than keeping the older person artificially busy Continuity theory suggests that people continue to view the self in much the same way as they did when they were younger People in late adulthood continue to be productive through work, education, volunteering, family life, and intimate relationships

Psychosocial Development, continued • With mandatory retirement illegal in the United States, many older

Psychosocial Development, continued • With mandatory retirement illegal in the United States, many older adults • • • continue working either full or part-time for income, pleasure, or both About 60% of older adults engage in informal volunteerism helping out neighbors or friends rather than more formal volunteer work Those who have recently retired are more likely to volunteer than those over 75 years of age Virtual volunteering is available and has increased from 3, 000 in 1998 to over 40, 000 participants in 2005 (AARP) Lifelong learning through continuing education programs provide enriching experiences and is likely to be taken by older adults with higher levels of education Older adults tend to become more involved in prayer and religious activities and are very politically active

Attitudes about Aging • Aging stereotypes lead many to assume late adulthood brings poor

Attitudes about Aging • Aging stereotypes lead many to assume late adulthood brings poor health and • • • mental decline Ageism is prejudice and discrimination that is directed at older people and can often lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy Ageism is a modern and predominantly western cultural phenomenon Many preindustrial societies observed gerontrocracy, a type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society’s oldest members Racism throughout the lifetimes results in many older minorities having fewer resources, more chronic health conditions, and significant health disparities when compared to older white Americans Older adults are more frequently abused by family members than in nursing home, with the most common type financial abuse and neglect

Relationships in Late Adulthood • • • It has become increasingly common for grandparents

Relationships in Late Adulthood • • • It has become increasingly common for grandparents to live with and raise their grandchildren or move back in with adult children Grandparenting typically begins in midlife rather than late adulthood 0 but longer lifespans means being grandparents for longer Remote grandparents: rarely see grandchildren, live far away, may also have a distant relationship Companionate grandparents : do things with the grandchild but have little authority or control over them and take on more of a friend role Involved grandparents : take a very active role in their grandchild’s life, grandchild might live in their home or the grandparent has frequent contact and authority

Relationships in Late Adulthood, continued I • Many married couples feel their marriage has

Relationships in Late Adulthood, continued I • Many married couples feel their marriage has improved with time and • • • emotional intensity and conflicts have declined While bad marriages do not become good ones over time, marriages with higher conflict have ended and past disagreements may no longer be of concern Older couples continue to engage in sexual activity but with less focus on intercourse Divorce after long-term marriage is not common but may increase as people live longer Women are more likely to be widowed, reflecting their longer life expectancy, with the death of a spouse being one of life’s most disruptive experiences Loneliness is a discrepancy between social contact wanted and had and can be experienced in social or emotional isolation

Relationships in Late Adulthood, continued II • Men are more likely to suffer from

Relationships in Late Adulthood, continued II • Men are more likely to suffer from emotional isolation and are therefore at a • • • higher risk for suicide Solitude involves gaining self-awareness, taking care of self, being comfortable alone, and pursuing one’s interests Friendships tend to be an important influence in life satisfaction during late adulthood According to socioemotional selectivity theory, older adults become more selective in their friendships than when they were younger and are more likely to be based on a sense of connection Many retirement issues for LGBTQ+ and intersex people are unique as they are less likely to have strong family support systems in place to have relatives who can care for them during aging LGBTQ+ older adults also have concerns about health insurance, sharing living quarters in residential facilities, and how staff members may view their relationships

Relationships in Late Adulthood, continued • Older adults do not typically relocate far from

Relationships in Late Adulthood, continued • Older adults do not typically relocate far from their previous residence with some living in planned retirement communities or in age-segregated neighborhoods • Over 60 million Americans live in mutigenerational households and most older adults who require some care receive it at home

Practice Question 3 Companionate grandparents are usually characterized by which of the following? A.

Practice Question 3 Companionate grandparents are usually characterized by which of the following? A. They take responsibility for their grandchildren. B. They rarely call or visit their grandchildren and never take them on vacation without the parents. C. They act as supporters and buddies to their grandchildren. D. They hold clear expectations about the way their grandchildren should behave.

Class Activity: Finding Happiness • • • Get into groups with someone identified to

Class Activity: Finding Happiness • • • Get into groups with someone identified to write down ideas How do you define happiness for yourself? Do you consider yourself to be a happy person right now? What do you need in life in order to be happy? How is that need different than when you were a child? Do you think you will feel the same when you turn 65? Why or why not?

Quick Review • • • What are the age categories of late adulthood? What

Quick Review • • • What are the age categories of late adulthood? What factors contribute to longer life expectancies? How does primary aging, including vision and hearing loss, present? What are secondary aging concerns that are common in late adulthood, including illnesses and diseases? What is similar and different about theories of aging? What is the impact of aging on memory? How does age impact cognitive functioning? What does abnormal memory loss look like when due to Alzheimer’s disease, delirium, and dementia? How do theories describe development in late adulthood, including Erikson’s psychosocial stage of integrity vs. despair? What are some examples of productivity in late adulthood? What are attitudes about aging? How are family relationships formed during late adulthood (including grandparenting, marriage, divorce, and widowhood)?