Lifespan Psych Chapter 17

1. Physical
Development in
Late Adulthood
Chapter 17
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2. 17 - 2
Chapter Outline
• Longevity
• The course of physical development in late
adulthood
• Health
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Longevity
• Life expectancy and life span
– Life span: Maximum number of years an
individual can live
• Between 120–125 years
– Life expectancy: Number of years that the
average person born in a particular year will
probably live
• Average is 78.3 years
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

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Longevity
• Life expectancy and life span
– Differences in life expectancy
• Due to factors such as health conditions and medical
care
• Ethnic differences
– Female life expectancy 80.8 years, males 75.7 years
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

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Longevity
• Life expectancy and life span
– Centenarians
• Increasing by approximately 7% each year
• Explanations
– Diet
– Low-stress lifestyle
– Caring community
– Activity
– Spirituality
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

6. 17 - 6
Longevity
• The young-old and the oldest-old
– Young-old are aged 65 to 84
– Oldest-old are aged 85 or more
– Functional age - Person’s actual ability to function
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7. 17 - 7
Longevity
• Biological theories of aging
– Evolutionary theory: Natural selection has not
eliminated many harmful conditions and
nonadaptive characteristics in older adults
– Cellular clock theory: Cells can divide a maximum
of about 75 to 80 times
• Age makes cells less capable of dividing
• Telomeres – Tips of chromosomes; DNA sequences that
cap chromosomes
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

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Longevity
• Biological theories of aging
– Free-radical theory: People age because:
• When cells metabolize energy
– By-products include unstable oxygen molecules known as free
radicals
– Mitochondrial theory: Aging is caused by the
decay of mitochondria
– Hormonal stress theory: Aging in the body’s
hormonal system can lower resistance to stress
and increase the likelihood of disease
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

9. 17 - 9
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• The aging brain
– The shrinking, slowing brain
• Brain loses 5% to 10% of its weight between the ages of
20 and 90 years
• Volume decreases due to:
– Shrinkage of neurons
– Lower numbers of synapses
– Reduced length of axon
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

10. 17 - 10
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• The aging brain
– The shrinking, slowing brain
• Slowing of function in the brain and spinal cord begins
in middle adulthood and accelerates in late adulthood
– Affecting physical coordination and intellectual performance
• Aging - Linked to a reduction in the production of
certain neurotransmitters
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

11. 17 - 11
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• The aging brain
– The adapting brain
• Neurogenesis: Generation of new neurons
• Dendritic growth
• Older brains rewire to compensate for losses
• Decrease in lateralization
– Improve cognitive functioning
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12. 17 - 12
Figure 17.6 - The Decrease in Brain
Lateralization in Older Adults
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13. 17 - 13
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Sleep
– 50 % of older adults complain of having difficulty
sleeping
• Result in earlier death and is linked to a lower level of
cognitive functioning
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

14. 17 - 14
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Strategies to help older adults sleep better at
night:
– Avoiding caffeine
– Avoiding over-the-counter sleep remedies
– Staying physically active during the day
– Staying mentally active
– Limiting naps
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

15. 17 - 15
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• The immune system
– Declines in functioning with age
• Extended duration of stress and diminished restorative
processes
• Malnutrition involving low levels of protein
– Exercise improves the immune system, and
influenza vaccination is important
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

16. 17 - 16
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Physical appearance and movement
– Most noticeable changes - Wrinkles and age spots
– Shorter with aging due to bone loss in their
vertebrae
– Weight drops after age 60
• Muscle loss
– Older adults move more slowly
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

17. 17 - 17
Figure 17.8 - Changes in Body Composition of Bone,
Muscle, and Fat from 25 to 75 Years of Age
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

18. 17 - 18
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Sensory development
– Vision
• Visual acuity
• Color vision
• Depth perception
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

19. 17 - 19
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Sensory development
– Diseases of the eye
• Cataracts: Thickening of the lens of the eye
– Causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distorted
• Glaucoma: Damage to the optic nerve because of:
– Pressure created by a buildup of fluid in the eye
• Macular degeneration: Deterioration of the macula of
the retina
– Corresponds to the focal center of the visual field
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

20. 17 - 20
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Sensory development
– Hearing
• Impairments becomes an impediment
• Hearing aids and cochlear implants can minimize the
problems linked to hearing loss
– Smell and taste
• Smell and taste losses typically begin about age 60
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

21. 17 - 21
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
– Touch and pain
• Detect touch less in the lower extremities
• Decreased sensitivity to pain can help adults cope with
disease and injury
– Mask injuries and illnesses that need to be treated
• The circulatory system and lungs
– Cardiovascular disorders increase in late
adulthood
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

22. 17 - 22
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
– High blood pressure can be linked with
• Illness
• Obesity
• Anxiety
• Stiffening of blood vessels
• Lack of exercise
– Lung capacity drops 40% between the ages of 20
and 80
• Can be improved with diaphragm-strengthening
exercises
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

23. 17 - 23
The Course of Physical Development in
Late Adulthood
• Sexuality
– Orgasm becomes less frequent in males with age
– Many are sexually active as long as they are
healthy
– Various therapies have been effective for older
adults who report sexual difficulties
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

24. 17 - 24
Figure 17.13 - Sexual Activity in
Older Adults with a Partner
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

25. 17 - 25
Health
• Health problems
– Probability of having some disease or illness
increases with age
• Arthritis is the most common followed by hypertension
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

26. 17 - 26
Figure 17.15 - The Most Prevalent Chronic
Conditions in Middle and Late Adulthood
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

27. 17 - 27
Health
• Health problems
– Causes of death in older adults
• Nearly 60% of 65–74-year-olds die of cancer or
cerebrovascular disease
• 75–84 and 85+ age groups
– Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death
• Ethnicity is linked with death rates of older adults
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

28. 17 - 28
Health
• Health problems
– Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints accompanied
by pain, stiffness, and movement problems
– Osteoporosis: Extensive loss of bone tissue
– Accidents - 9th leading cause of death in older
adults
• Falls are the leading cause
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

29. 17 - 29
Health
• Substance use and abuse
– Multiple medications - Increase the risks
associated with consuming alcohol or other drugs
– Frequency of binge drinking - Highest among older
adults
– Invisible epidemic
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

30. 17 - 30
Health
• Substance use and abuse
– Late-onset alcoholism - Used to describe the onset
of alcoholism after the age of 65
• Related to loneliness, loss of a spouse, or a disabling
condition
– Moderate drinking of red wine - Linked to better
health and increased longevity due to benefits of
resveratrol
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

31. 17 - 31
Figure 17.17 - Physical Fitness and
Mortality
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

32. 17 - 32
Health
• Exercise, nutrition, and weight
– Exercise
• Linked to increased longevity and prevention of
common chronic diseases
• Associated with improvement in the treatment of
many diseases
• Improves older adults’ cellular functioning and immune
system functioning
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

33. 17 - 33
Health
• Exercise, nutrition, and weight
– Exercise
• Can optimize body composition and reduce the decline
in motor skills as aging occurs
• Reduces the likelihood that older adults will develop
mental health problems
• Linked to improved brain and cognitive functioning
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

34. 17 - 34
Health
• Exercise, nutrition, and weight
– Nutrition and weight
• Getting adequate nutrition
• Avoiding overweight and obesity
• Role of calorie restriction in improving health and
extending life
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

35. 17 - 35
Health
• Exercise, nutrition, and weight
– Controversy over vitamins and aging
• Balanced diet - Needed for successful aging
• Antioxidants
– Slow the aging process and improve the health
– Neutralize free-radical activity
– Reduce oxidative stress
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

36. 17 - 36
Health
• Health treatment
– Disease management programs - Need to be
expanded
– Geriatric nurses - Helpful in treating the health
care problems
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

37. 17 - 37
Health
– Development of alternative home and
community-based care
• Decreased the percentage of older adults who live in
nursing homes
– Factor related to health and survival in a nursing
home:
• Patient’s feelings of control and self-determination
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38. 17 - 38
Figure 17.22 - Perceived Control and
Mortality
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document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.