THEME 6 PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD

THEME 6 PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE

ADULTHOOD CHILDHOOD OLD AGE

ADULTHOOD STEREOTYPES Development ends in adolescence A period of stability and absence of changes REALITY Important changes occur Development continues

OLD AGE STEREOTYPES Period of generalized deterioation Little plasticity and capacity to learn REALITY Important individual differences Existance of losses and gains: some abilities can improve

SPANISH POPULATION PYRAMID 1991 Sign of the civli war and postwar Delayed Baby-boom Sudden decline in birth rate

PIRÁMIDE POBLACIONAL ESPAÑOLA 1999 Baby-boom job search: lots of unemployment

PIRÁMIDE POBLACIONAL ESPAÑOLA 2005 Decline in the search for employment

SPANISH POPULATION PYRAMID 2025 Baby-boom begins to retire

PHILIPPINE POPULATION PYRAMID

LIFE EXPECTANCY Number of years calculated that someone born in a specific year will live Refers to the lifespan of 50% of the individuals of a generation Genetic base of the differences in genders Year 1900 1950 1990 Men 34, 7 59, 8 73, 4 Women 35, 7 64, 8 80, 5 Causes of increase: Advances in medicine Decrease in premature deaths in childhood Better life conditions

ACTIVE LIFE EXPECTENCY Number of years an individual can hope to keep being an active member of society MAXIMUM LIFE LIMIT Maximum number of a years an individual of a species has lived Ronda - 115 years (122) Long-lived communities exist: Vilacabamba (Andes), Abkasianos (Georgia), Hunzunuts (Cachemira)

PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE n Changes in the proportion of fat tissue and muscular mass n Ageing of the skin n Decrease in reaction speed n Loss of visual and auditory acuteness n Cardiovascular changes n Diseases related to age

PRIMARY AGEING Normal and intrinsic process of genetically programed biological ageing that occurs regardless of good health THEORIES ABOUT AGEING • Limited division and regeneration of cells • Decrease in the ability to confront errors in DNA • Influence of free radicals • Weakening of the immune and endocrine systems

SECONDARY AGEING Pathological decline related to age that is caused by extrinsic or external factors such as diseases, environmental influences, or life style Diet, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, sun, physical exercise, etc. n Type A behavior and cardiovascular system n Stress and immune system. n

CHANGES IN VISION I n n n Reduction of the pupil and increase in pupillary reflex latency Obscuration of vitreous humor Loss of flexibility and yellowing of lens Loss of visual acuteness Reduction of field of vision (140º) Greater sensibility to bright light (glare) Worse perception of depth

CHANGES IN VISION II Difficulty in distinguishing cold colors n Worse sensitivity in contrasting chiaroscuro n Difficulty in the perception of ambiguous stimulus n COMMON DISEASES Cataracts, glaucoma and senile macular degeneration MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED BY DESIGNING ADECUATE SPACES FOR OLDER PEOPLE

CHANGES IN HEARING n n n Difficulty in perceiving high-pitched noises (presbycusis) Buzzing Difficulty in localizing sounds Worse auditory discrimination Increase in the amount of sound necessary in order to identify speech IMPORTANT SOCIAL REPERCUSSION SOME ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS CAN OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS

CHANGES IN OTHER SENSES n Decrease in sense of smell and taste: loss of appetite, difficulty in recognizing a poor diet, no recognition of bad body odor or gas n Worse sensitivity of pain n Worse sensitivity of temperature

MOTOR CAPACITY n n n Increase in reaction time Progressive loss of balance and worse motor coordination Deterioration of the joints Increased tendency for accidents Importance of physical activity

AGEING AND SEXUALITY Feminine Sexuality: Menopause n n n Twelve months without menstruation Occurs around 50 years of age It is not a generalized crisis (individual and cultural differences) Psychosomatic disorders (hot flashes, depressive symptoms, etc. ) Effects of hormone scarcity Influences over sexual desire and activity

AGEING AND MASCULINE SEXUALITY n n n Changes are more gradual Decrease in testosterone Slower sexual response Decrease in volume of sperm Longer refractory period

AGEING OF BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM n n n It’s difficult to separate the effects of ageing and those of disease Reduction of cerebral mass Death of neurons and loss of neuronal connections Decrease in the concentration of neurotransmitters Plasticity and possibility of new connections Increase in slow-type cerebral waves (changes in the patterns of sleep-wakefulness)