The document discusses various changes that occur with aging including behavioral, physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. As people age, they experience things like loss of memory and brain function, decreased muscle and organ function, increased anxiety and frustration with physical declines. However, aging also brings greater life satisfaction and less risky behaviors. Maintaining social support, exercise, nutrition, and mental stimulation are important for maximizing quality of life as people grow older. Proper planning is also key to managing health, finances and end-of-life needs.

1. Aging
All Aspects
Bonnie Gallea
July 2, 2012

2. Changes as we age
Behavioral changes, physical changes, emotional
changes, and cognitive changes all affect how you
age. In the year 2000, one of every seven U.S.
citizens was over the age of 65. This is the fastest
growing segment of the population and is expected
to increase to one of every five U.S. citizens by the
year 2025. (Cognitive Aging, 2004) Additional
research is needed to reduce cognitive impairment
and enhance vitality in later years.

3. Behavioral changes
• Convey more positive emotions overall
• Higher satisfaction with family, friends, and
life in general
• Resistance to change
• Reduction in drinking and
smoking habits
• Incidence of crime declines
(Myers, 2011, p.170)
(Age Differences, 2004)

4. Physical changes
• Loss of visual acuity
• Hearing loss
• Declining sensitivity to taste, smell, and pain
• Substantial increase in individual variability*
• Reduced muscle strength
and stamina
• Reduced cardiac output
• Weakened immune system
*Individual variability is the difference between one individual to the other.
(Aging and Intelligence, 2004)

5. Emotional changes
• More anxiety
• Less depression and hostility if health is
maintained
• Grieving losses can create stubbornness and
regression
• Frustration with physical changes
• More fear of injury or illness
(Age Differences, 2004)

6. Cognitive changes
• Decreased long-term memory
• Decrease in neural processing in the hippocampus
area of the brain
• Gain in vocabulary and accumulated knowledge
(Crystallized Intelligence)
• Deficits in problem solving
• Overall intellectual functioning
decreases
• Dual-task performance declines
(Myers, 2011, p.167)
(Cognitive Aging, 2004)

7. How to stay healthy as you age
Staying healthy as you age is important to all of
us. You want to be able to enjoy life for as long as
you can. There are some basic tips to help do just
that. To enhance your cognitive skills, you must
continue to learn. To enhance your physical state,
you must exercise moderately. To enhance your
emotional state, you need to surround yourself
with people that love and care for you. (Cognitive
Aging, 2004) All of these help you to maintain a
heightened quality of life.

8. How to stay healthy as you age
• Regular exercise
• Stress management
• Social support
• Spirituality
• Nutrition

9. Diseases associated with aging
Diseases associated with aging can affect every
aspect of your health. There are some that affect
only the memory or cognitive skills. There are
many that affect your physical well being.
Finally, there are those that affect cognitive,
behavioral, physical, and emotion attributes of
health. Controlling your weight, blood pressure,
and glucose levels helps to maintain and
strengthen your immune system.
(Cognitive Aging, 2004)

10. Diseases associated with aging
• Alzheimer's disease
• Huntington's disease
• Delirium and Dementia
• Low thyroid function
• Diabetes
• Cardiac disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure

11. Improvements and advancements
• Developments in neuroimaging technology have
increased the understanding of the relationship between
the brain and behavior.
• Rapid growth in data storage technology has made
access to aging studies available.
• Personal emergency response products and
videophones have made it possible for more elderly
individuals to remain in their homes longer.
• Advancements in both hearing and vision aids have
improved the quality of life for many.
• There are gadgets available to make housekeeping and
leisure activities more enjoyable.
• Research on stem cell and gene therapy have continued.
(Cognitive Aging, 2004)

12. Mediating variables
There are additional risks associated with certain
variables. Who you are, what you do, where you
come from, and what type of person you are all
affect how you age. Biology and environment
are also key factors in determining if you gain
weight as you age, if you lose your hair, wrinkle,
and even the diseases you may carry. Another
important variable is the opportunities you get
from a higher education, social level, and access
to proper medical care.
(Cognitive Aging, 2004)

13. Mediating variables
• Gender
• Education level
• Social class
• Race
• Motivation
• Temperament
• Degree of impairment
• Opportunities

14. Crisis management
Before you get sick or incapacitated there are a
few guidelines that can help you to control your
interests. Preparing documents that advise others
what your final wishes are is critical for a stress
free retirement and beyond. Letting someone you
trust know where all your important documents
are, can give you peace of mind. Next is a list of
documents to prepare in advance or gather in one
place to make the transition easier.
(Huddleston, 2011)

15. Crisis management
• Will • Location of lock Box
• Power of Attorney • Tax Returns
• Living Will • Deed to Home
• List of Banks, Attorneys,
• Funeral Accountants, Mortgage
Arrangements Company, Financial
• Pension Papers Planner, or Brokerage
• Social Security Firm
Information • Medications taken
All of the above will help the people you love to deal with the details of your life.

16. Conclusion
Overall, with a strong active support system
older individuals can perform well and even
improve in most aspects of aging. With regular
exercise, nutrition, social and spiritual support as
well as stress management quality of life can be
maintained for a longer period of time than
previous generations. Appropriate provisions
need to be addressed to enhance peace of mind
and make it easier for loved ones to care for you.

17. References
Age Differences. (2004). In The Concise Corsini Encyclopedia of
Psychology and Behavioral Science. Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/wileypsych/age_differences
Aging and Intelligence. (2004). In The Concise Corsini Encyclopedia of
Psychology and Behavioral Science. Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/wileypsych/aging_and_intelligence
Aging, Theories Of. (2006). In Elsevier's Dictionary of Psychological
Theories. Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/estpsyctheory/aging_theories_of
Cognitive Aging (2004). In Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology.
Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/estappliedpsyc/cognitive_aging
Huddleston, C. (2011, March). Managing your Parents Money. Kiplinger.
Retrieved from http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/managing-your-
parents-money.html
Myers, D. G. (2011). Physical Changes Later in Life. Exploring Psychology.
Worth Publishers. 41 Madison Avenue, New York, NY