FAD 33220 Final Exam Study Guide (Ch 15-19)Chapter 15: Physical & Cognitive Development in Moodle Adulthood Middle Age A social construct in industrial societies. Not recognized by some cultures, such as upper-caste Hindus in rural India (traditional society) The concept of “middle adulthood” has developed as life-expectancy has increased. In the book, middle adulthood is defined in chronological terms as the years btwn age 40 & 45. Can be a time of loss, but also a time of growth. Physical changes “Use it or lose it!” Behavioral and lifestyle factors dating from youth can affect the likelihood, timing, and extent of physical age. The more people do, the more they can do. People who become active early in life reap the benefits of more stamina and more resilience after age 60. Loss in muscle tone, flexibility, stamina, speed, and dexterity due to genetic aging but also because of decreased use or activity. People who lead sedentary lives lose muscle tone & energy & become even less inclined to exert themselves physically. With age, comes a gradual decrease in basal metabolism (use of energy to maintain vital functions), and therefore a decrease in endurance. Vision changes Presbyopia: age-related, progressive loss of eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects due to loss of elasticity in the lens. Myopia: nearsightedness. (also increases through middle age) Age-related visual problems occur mainly in five areas: Near vision Dynamic vision (reading moving signs) Sensitivity to light Visual search (for example, locating a sign) Speed of processing visual information Visual acuity (sharpness of vision) Because of changes in the pupil of the eye, middle-aged people may need about one-third more brightness to compensate for the loss of light reaching the retina. Because the lens of the eyes become progressively less flexible, its ability to shift focus diminishes. Hearing Changes Presbycusis: age-related, gradual loss of hearing, which accelerates after age 55, especially with regard to sounds at higher frequencies. Hearing loss proceeds twice as quickly in men as in women. Today, a preventable increase in hearing loss is occurring among 45- to 64-year-olds due to continuous or sudden exposure to noise at work, loud concerts, through earphones, etc. Taste & Smell Sensitivity to taste and smell decreases. Food may seem more bland. Because taste buds become less sensitive and the number of olfactory cells diminishes. Women tend to retain these senses longer than men. Sensitivity may change to different types of food. One person may become less sensitive to salty foods, another to sweet, bitter, or sour foods. Brain functioning Declines in reaction time and multitasking Inability to filter• The ability to ignore distractions gradually declines with age Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon A person knows they know a word, but cannot access it from memory Becomes more frequent in midlife Proves that there’s actual physical/structural change in the brain. Myelin (the fatty sheath that lines our nerve axons and helps impulses move more quickly through our brains) begins to break down with age. Brain fires impulses more slowly (work slower) Structural/Systemic Changes Skin thins, and becomes less taut & smooth. Because the layer of fat below the surface becomes thinner, collagen molecules more rigid, and elastin fibers more brittle. Hair thins (due to a slowed replacement rate) Hair grays (due to a reduced production of melanin) Gain weight As a result of accumulation of body fat Lose height Due to shrinkage of the intervertebral disks Bone density decreases (bones become thinner & more brittle) More calcium is absorbed than replaced Occurs twice as rapidly in women as in men Sexual & Reproductive Functioning Sexual enjoyment continues throughout adult life. Menopause: cessation of menstruation and of ability to bear children (btwn ages 45-55). Symptoms: hot flashes, changes in sexual desire, depression, moodiness, tension. Not all empirically supported• Research suggests that some of the presumed symptoms of menopausal syndrome may be related more to other natural changes of aging than to menopause itself. Men experience decreases in testosterone and sperm count. Physical health Most middle-aged adults report that they are healthy. Common health problems: Hypertension: chronically high blood pressure.• Almost 41% of adults ages 55-64 suffer from hypertension. Cancer: has replaced heart disease as the leading cause of death between ages 45 to 64. Heart disease: improvements in treatment of heart attack patients has decreased numbers Diabetes: disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that converts sugar, starches, and other foods into energy needed for daily life.• Prevalence doubled in the 1990s. • Type 1: juvenile-onset; insulin-dependent; the level of blood sugar rises b/c the body does not produce enough insulin• Type 2: mature-onset (age 30); glucose levels rise because the cells lose their ability to use the insulin the body produces Factors that affect health Smoking/drinking On average, Americans who smoke, are overweight, and have high blood pressure and high blood sugar are likely to shave 4 years off their life expectancy. Weight Excess weight in middle age increases the risk of impaired health and death. Exercise/diet U.S. adults ages 51 to 61: those who engaged in regular, moderate or vigorous exercise were about 35% less likely to die in the next 8 years than those with sedentary lifestyles. SES People with low socioeconomic status tend to have poorer health, shorter life expectancy, more activity limitations due to chronic disease, lower well-being, and more restricted access to health care than people with higher SES. Race/ethnicity Hispanics have the highest prevalence rates of being overweight (84.2%) . Non-hispanic blacks have the highest prevalence rates of obesity (34.9%). Overall death rates in middle age are higher for African Americans. Gender Women have a higher life expectancy than men and lower death rates throughout life. Female health issues Osteoporosis: condition in which the bones become thin and brittle as a result of rapid
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