Review lecture 23 chapter 23

1. PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

2. 2
1. Introduction
2. Fact or Fiction?
3. Prejudice and Predictions
6. Theories of Aging
7. The Centenarians
8. Closing Thoughts
4. Selective Optimization with Compensation
5. Aging and Disease
PART VIII: LATE ADULTHOOD
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

3. Fact or Fiction? Myth Fact
1. Most of the visual losses of the aged cannot be corrected.
2. Although older people are more susceptible to disease,
they tend to recover faster from most illnesses.
3. Some members of the baby boomer generation
have already entered late adulthood.
4. The experience of ageism can have negative effects on health
and wellness.
Physical Development
3
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

4. In a study, three groups of subjects (each group had
½ younger and ½ older adults) took a memory test.
All younger adults received better scores than the
older adults. But how did the gap in scores between
young and old compare among the three groups?
Ageism
ageism: A prejudice
whereby people are
categorized and judged
solely on the basis of
their chronological age.
Groups in the study Gap in scores for younger and
older adults among groups
Chinese
Five-fold less than scores for
Hearing North American group
Deaf North Americans
Two-fold less than scores for
Hearing North American group
Hearing North American
Twice as great as scores for
Deaf North American group
4
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

5. demographic shift: A shift in the proportion of the populations of various ages.
centenarian: A person who has lived 100 years or more.
Age Structure of the U.S. Population, 1920 and 2015 (population in millions)
Sources: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1975 (left); U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2009 (right).
2015 (projected)Years
85+
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
From Pyramid to Square
1920
11.6
11.4
10.6
9.4
9.3
9.1
8.1
7.8
6.3
5.8
4.7
3.6
3.0
2.2
1.7
1.2
0.7
0.5
22.1
21.7
21.7
21.2
22.4
22.4
22.0
20.5
20.5
21.0
22.4
21.7
18.9
15.8
11.2
7.9
5.7
6.3
5
In terms of age, how has the U.S. population changed since 1920?
Bill
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

6. 6
Video:
Portrait of Aging: Bill, 99 years old
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

7. 7
Video:
Portrait of Aging: Mary, 94 years old
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

8. 8
Video:
Portrait of Aging: Bernice, age 97
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

9. How do gerontologists distinguish among the ages of older adults?
Young-old Old-old Oldest-old
Healthy, vigorous,
financially secure older
adults (generally, those
adults 60 to 75) who are
well integrated into the
lives of their families
and communities.
Older adults
(generally, those over
age 75) who suffer
from physical, mental,
or social deficits.
Elderly adults (generally,
those over age 85) who
are dependent on others
for almost everything,
requiring supportive
services such as nursing
homes and hospital stays.
9All photos: Fancy Collection/SuperStock
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

10. 10
Video:
Active and Healthy Aging:
Age Categories in Late Adulthood
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

11. Elderly can compensate for the impairments of senescence
and can then perform tasks as needed
Every compensatory strategy involves personal choice,
societal practices, and technological options
11
Photocredits,lefttoright:moodboard/SuperStock;FancyCollection/SuperStock;FancyCollection/SuperStock
SELECTIVE OPTIMIZATION WITH COMPENSATION
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

12. Normal
Cataracts
a thickening of the
lens, causing vision to
become cloudy,
opaque, and distorted
can be removed in
outpatient surgery and
replaced with an
artificial lens
Glaucoma
a buildup of fluid within
the eye that damages
the optic nerve
early stages have no
symptoms, but later
stages cause blindness
that can be prevented
if condition is diagnosed
and treated early enough
Macular degeneration
a deterioration of the retina
early warning is vision that
becomes spotty (e.g., some
letters missing when reading)
early treatment (medication)
can restore some vision, but
this condition is progressive
and causes blindness about
five years after it starts
Dulling of the Senses
What are common vision impairments among the elderly?
12All photos: Photodisc/Getty Images
SELECTIVE OPTIMIZATION WITH COMPENSATION
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

13. SELECTIVE OPTIMIZATION WITH COMPENSATION
13
Video:
Signs of Aging:
Changes in Vision
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

14. Appearance
Of what importance are the changes in appearance
that happen to adults as they age?
primary aging: The universal and irreversible physical changes
that occur to all living creatures as they grow older.
secondary aging: The specific physical illnesses or conditions
that become more common with aging.
14
Photocredits,lefttoright:moodboard/SuperStock;FancyCollection/SuperStock;FancyCollection/SuperStock
AGING AND DISEASE
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

15. Appearance
15
Video:
Signs of Aging: Changes in Appearance
AGING AND DISEASE
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

16. Appearance
16
Video:
Signs of Aging: Changes in Size and Shape
AGING AND DISEASE
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

17. Death Rates of Adults over Age 65 Relative to Rates of Adults under 65, United States
Heart disease
Cancer
Cerebrovascular
diseases (stroke)
Accidents
Pneumonia/flu
Diabetes
Arteriosclerosis
Source: Arking, 2006.
Major Body Systems
At what rates do failures of body systems lead to death?
Same 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x
17
cardiovascular disease:
Disease that involves the heart and the circulatory system.
AGING AND DISEASE
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

18. Compression of Morbidity
How do twin brothers demonstrate compression of morbidity?
compression of morbidity: A shortening of the time a person spends ill or infirm,
accomplished by postponing illness.
Compression of Morbidity in Twin Brothers
Age (years)
Age (years)
Pneumonia
Heart attack
Lung cancer
Stroke
Emphysema
Death0 50 100
100Death500
Pneumonia
Heart attack
Stroke
Emphysema
Lung
cancer
Source: Fries, 1994.
Prototypic lingering
chronic illness
Effects of the postponement
of chronic disease
18
AGING AND DISEASE
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

19. Wear and Tear
According to the wear-and-tear theory, what are the main findings that support
this view of aging?
According to the “disposable
soma” theory, each body (soma)
has a certain amount of physical
energy and strength, which
gradually is spent (disposed of)
over a lifetime.
(Finch & Kirkwood, 2000)
Supporting finding
People who are overweight
sicken and die at younger ages,
perhaps because it takes more
energy to maintain their bodies
and thus less life force is
available over time.
Transplanted hearts and livers,
artificial knees and hips, and
implanted dentures can replace
worn-out ones, adding years to life.
Wear
and
Tear
Supporting finding
Supporting finding
wear-and-tear theory: A process by which the human body wears
out due to the passage of time and exposure to environmental risks.
19
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

20. Genetic Adaptation
What are some genetic reasons for the length of human life?
Progeria is a genetic disease that
stops growth at about age 5,
when children begin to look old,
with wrinkled skin and balding
heads. These children die in their
teens of heart diseases typically
found in the elderly.
Just as people are genetically programmed to
become capable of reproduction before age 20,
humans may be genetically programmed to die,
usually by age 90, with 122 the upper limit.
According to evolutionary theory, an
explanation for menopause at around
age 50 is the “grandmother hypothesis”
—that childbearing must cease so women
can raise their children and help younger
parents for future generations
(Lahdenperä et al., 2004). (This theory is
not proven.) 20
genetic clock: A purported mechanism in the DNA of
cells that regulates the aging process.
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

21. Cellular Aging
How do molecules and cells, not whole body systems, cause aging?
Oxygen free radicals: Atoms of
oxygen that, as a result of
metabolic processes, have an
unpaired electron. These atoms
scramble DNA molecules or
mitochondria, producing errors in
cell maintenance and repair that,
over time, may cause cancer,
diabetes, and arteriosclerosis.
The immune system
B cells: Immune cells manufactured
in the bone marrow that create
antibodies for isolating and
destroying bacteria and viruses that
invade the body.
T cells: Immune cells
manufactured in the thymus gland
that produce substances that attack
infected cells in the body.
Hayflick limit: suggests that human
cells are capable of duplicating into
two new cells approximately 50 times,
indicating that the life span may be
limited by our genetic program.
Telomeres: The ends of chromosomes
in the cells; their length decreases
with each cell duplication and seems
to correlate with longevity.
Cellular aging
End of replication
Cellular accidents
21
© Andrezj Wojcicki/Science Photo Library/Corbis
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

22. Longevity
Even the very old do farm
work, household tasks, and
child care.
The elderly are well integrated
into families of several
generations and interact
frequently with friends and
neighbors.
Other Places, Other Stories
What lifestyle factors in the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, and
Ecuador research have been found to promote longevity?
People ate mostly fresh
vegetables and herbs, with
little meat or fat. They
thought it better to be a
little bit hungry than too
full.
Most take a walk every morning
and evening (often up and down
mountains), nap midday, and
socialize in the evening.
Diet:
Work:
Family and community:
Exercise and relaxation:
22
Forester/Forest/Shutterstock,Inc.
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

23. 1. What area of the
United States is known for
communities where people
live long, productive lives?
North Dakota
2. What religious group
in the United States is
known for communities
where people live long,
productive lives?
Seventh Day Adventists
3. What qualities of life did
researchers find promote
centenarians in the United
States, as well as in Western
Europe and Asia?
Moderate diet, hard work, an
optimistic attitude, intellectual
curiosity, and social
involvement
The Truth about Life After 100
Do you know?
23
©EliadaToska/MomentOpen/GettyImages
DiegoCervo/Shutterstock,Inc.
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

24. What about physical development in late
adulthood confirms or debunks the kind of
ageism that many older adults experience?
Closing Thoughts
24
PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development

25. PART VIII: Late Adulthood
TOPIC 23: Biosocial Development