The document summarizes biological and health changes across the human lifespan from infancy to late adulthood. In infancy and childhood, growth is rapid with increases in height, weight, and brain development. Puberty begins adolescence with physical changes like growth spurts and sexual maturation. The brain also undergoes structural changes during adolescence. In late adulthood, physical changes include weight loss, shrinking of tissues and organs, and graying of hair. Sleep patterns, nutrition, exercise, and risk of chronic illness also change across these stages of life.

1. Biological and
Health Changes in
the Human Lifespan

2. Biological Changes
Infancy & Childhood

3. Infancy and Childhood`
Height and weight increase
rapidly starting in infancy
and slow steadily into
childhood.
3

4. Body Growth
Patterns
Humans develop in a
top to bottom
sequence, starting
with rapid growth in
the head and then
down through the
body.
Infants
Newborns lose an
average of 6% of their
body weight in the
first week of life. Then,
they grow rapidly,
gaining 3 times their
birth weight and
increasing their height
by nearly half. This
rate of growth does
not sustain past the
age of 2.
Children
Between individuals,
growth rates differ.
But in general, height
and weight increases
steadily but also slows
with each year of age.
By middle/late
childhood growth
continues slowly until
the rapid onset of
changes in
adolescence. 4

5. The Brain
Patterns
Brain development in
humans develop in a
bottom to top
sequence, ending with
the pre frontal cortex
in adolescence.
Infants
Brain development
occurs the most
during infancy. Faster
electrical impulses
occur along axons,
and synapses are
dramatically
increased. These
connections allow
motor control, sleep
regulation, and depth
perception to emerge.
Children
The brain and nervous
system continue
developing, with the brain
growing more rapidly
than any other part of the
body, though not as
much as in infancy.
Language development is
significant during this
time. Towards late
childhood, activity in the
prefrontal cortex
increases, leading to
better attention and self-
control. 5

6. Biological Changes
Adolescence

7. Puberty Physical Changes
Males
- Increase in penis
& testicle size
- Appearance of
straight pubic
hair
- Voice change
- First ejaculation
- Armpit hair
- Facial hair
- Peak Rate: 13.5
years
Females
- Breasts enlarge
- Pubic hair
appears
- Armpit hair
- Growth in height
- Wider hips
- First
menstruation
- Peak Rate: 11.5
years old
Puberty happens in early adolescence

8. Hormones
Males
- Testosterone
Associated with boys
and the development of
genitals, height, and
deep voice
Females
- Estradiol
Associated with girls and
the development of
breast, uterine, hips
Growth of pituitary gland is adolescence was linked to circulating estradiol & testosterone

9. Psychological Development
- Adolescents are preoccupied with their body image
- Especially during puberty
- Adolescents are more dissatisfied with their bodies in the
late adolescence stage

10. Brain Changes
- During adolescence,
brain is still growing
- Adolescents’ brains go
through structural
changes
- Corpus callosum
- Improves ability to
process info
- Frontal cortex
- Advances in reasoning,
decision making, adn self
control
- Limbic system
- emotions

11. Sleep
Too little sleep in
adolescence is linked to
- Delinquency
- Sleep disturbances
- Less effective attention
- Higher school absence
- Higher suicidal ideation
- Lower academic
achievement
- More emotional & peer
related problems
- Higher anxiety

12. Biological Changes
Late Adulthood

13. Physical Appearance
- Facial wrinkles
- Age spots
- Weight drops after 60 years of
age
- Bodies become more “sagging”
- Become shorter
- Lens of the eyes become
harder and less flexible
Most noticeable physical changes

14. Brain Changes
Shrinking
- Loses 5-10% of weight
- Volume decreases
Slowing
- Physical coordination
- reflexes
- Intellectual performance
- Cognitive tasks
- Reduction in acetylcholine
- Memory loss
- Reduction in dopamine
- Reduction in motor
control (Parkinson)
The Adapting Brain
- Capacity to generate new
neurons (neurogenesis)
- Dendritic growth
- Delateralization
-

15. Sleep
Sleep Deprivation
- Cardiovascular disease
- Shortened life span
- Cognitive impairment
- Motor impairment
- Increased risk of vehicle
crashes
- Work-related accidents

16. Health Changes
Infancy & Childhood

17. Infancy and Childhood
Biological, psychological,
and sociocultural factors
can affect the health of
infants and children.
17

18. Infancy
There are many preventable
childhood diseases. The
immunizations for these
should be given in the first
year of life. It is also very
important for infants to
receive stimulus in their
environment because it is
important for healthy brain
activity.
Promoting Health
Childhood
Immunizations need to
continue until 16 years of age.
Attention should also be given
to children’s environment. If
possible, caregivers should
provide a smoke-free home,
health food options, and age-
appropriate activities that
support development and
keep them safe.
18

19. Health Changes
Adolescence

20. Health, Illness, &
Disease
- Adolescence is critical in
health because many health
habits are being formed
- Family, peers, and school
influences the health of
adolescence

21. Nutrition & Eating
Behavior
Key problems in adolescence:
- Nutrition
- Overweight
Anorexia
- An eating disorder that
involves being thin & starving
Bulimia Nervosa
- Eating disorder in which the
individual binges and then
purges

22. Exercise
Most adolescents are not getting
enough exercise
- Adolescents become less
active
- Adolescent boys are more
likely than girls to engage in
vigorous exercise

23. Substance Use
- Adolescents in the US have
the highest drug rates
compared to any country
- Alcohol
- Cigarette smoking
- Most likely to begin in
grades 7 through 9
- A study found that low
parental knowledge of
adolescents’ peer relation
predicted substance use in
adolescence

24. Health Changes
Late Adulthood

25. Circulatory System
Men
- 57% hypertension
- 32% stroke
Women
- 60% hypertension
- 31% stroke
Hypertension becomes problematic and likelihood of stroke increases.
Consistent blood pressure above 120/80 should be treated to reduce risk of heart attack,
stroke, or kidney disease.

26. Chronic illness
Female
Chronic Disorders
- Arthritis
- Hypertension
- Sinus problems
Male
Chronic Disorders
- Hypertension
- Arthritis
- Hearing impairments
- Heart disease
Chronic Disorders
- Cardiovascular disease
- Leading cause of death
- Osteoporosis
- Dementia
- Alzheimer Disease
- Parkinson Disease
- Stress

27. Treatment
- Alternative Home and Community care
- Nursing home
- Extended Care Facility
- Home Health Care
- Elder Care Centers
- Preventive Medicine Clinics
- Less Expensive than hospitals and nursing
homes

28. Nutrition and Eating Behavior
Obesity
- Overweight and obesity are linked to increase risk of
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Overweight and obesity are associated with mental health problems
Calorie Restriction and Longevity
- Chronic problems (cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease) appear due to calorie restriction
Vitamins and Aging
- Antioxidants (vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene) help slow aging and improve health
- Antioxidants act like a fire extinguisher and help neutralize free-radical activity

29. Exercise
Produce physical and psychological gains
- Reduce risks for obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Improve flexibility
- Strengthen muscles and bones
- Aerobic exercise
- Stimulates heart and lung function

30. References
Santrock, J. W. (2016). A topical approach to life-span development. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
Slentz, K. (2001). Early childhood development and its variations.
Mahwah, N.J.: Routledge.
Later Adulthood - IResearchNet. (2017, April 10). Psychology.
http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/developmental-
psychology/social-development/later-adulthood/