FAD Exam 4 Chapters 15 16 17 18 19 Ch 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood Middle Age A social construct o Not recognized in other cultures especially those with short life expectancy o Can be a time of loss but also a time of growth Loss of function and ability o Variables like status personality health education emotional shape etc can effect the person s feelings about middle age Includes ages 40 65 but no biological or social events to mark boundaries 21st century o over 80 million baby boomers born 1946 1964 were between 35 and 54 years old and were 30 of the population Best educated and most affluent cohort to date Physical Changes Use it or lose it o If they don t keep up with activities they will lose cardio or muscular ability The more they do the more they CAN do o Loss in muscle tone flexibility stamina speed and dexterity due to genetic aging and decreased use activity o Gradual decrease in basal metabolism Basal metabolism metabolism simply for vital functions breathing heart beat etc Leads to weight gain body needs less energy Vision Changes o Sensitivity to near vision dynamic vision light visual search speed of o Changes in the pupil of the eye which effects the amount of light entering the processing visual acuity eye o Loss of elasticity in the lens changes shape to accommodate vision o need for reading glasses or bifocals o Presbyopia age related progressive loss of the eyes ability to focus on nearby objects due to the loss of elasticity in lens o Myopia nearsightedness Hearing Changes o Presbycusis age related gradual loss of hearing which accelerates after age 55 especially with regard o sounds of higher frequency Normally limited to higher pitch sounds used in speech Proceeds quicker in males than in females Occupation effects Noisy jobs can induce earlier hearing loss Taste Smell o Sensitivity to taste and smell decrease Foods may seem more bland Women keep these senses longer than men Men are more prone to having bad health Sensitivity may change to different types of food salty sweet bitter etc Touch o Begin to lose sensitivity after 45 and pain after 50 Protective pain still exists Strength and Coordination o Muscle loss noticeable by 45 o 10 15 of maximum strength gone by 60 Due to loss of muscle fiber which is replaced by fat o Grip strength can reflect birth weight and muscle growth earlier in life o Endurance holds up better than strength loss results from gradual decreases in basal metabolism o Reaction time slows Structural Systemic Changes o Skin thins and becomes less taut wrinkles Skin doesn t heal as quickly bruises sores o Hair thins and greats as melanin declines o Gain weight and lose height due to shrinking of intervertebral disks o Bone density decreases Twice as fast in women osteoporosis o By 65 heart loses 40 of aerobic power Vital Capacity amount of air that can be drawn in with a deep breath and expelled declines Sexual and Reproductive Issues o Sexual enjoyment continues throughout adult life although reproductive o Menopause cessation of menstruation and of ability to bear children 45 55 capacity decreases Process not an event Ovaries produce less estrogen Perimenopause period of several years during which a woman experiences physiological changes of menopause Symptoms hot flashes changes in sexual desire depression moodiness tension o Decreases in testosterone and sperm count Erectile dysfunction inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erect penis sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance Cialis Viagra o Frequency of sexual activity and satisfaction do tend to diminish gradually due to age an physical conditions o More emotional bonding Physical health Most report that they are healthy o Are more conscious of the need for health Common problems o Hypertension high blood pressure Managed by diet medication and exercise 60 more prevalent in Europe than US and Canada o Cancer leading cause of death Most cancers do not have obvious causes Aren t doing many bad things to their bodies if leading cause of death in relatively uncontrollable o Heart disease o Diabetes type 2 adult onset disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin a hormone that converts sugar starches and other foods into energy Controllable through diet Behavioral influences o Smoking BAD stopping can decrease risk of stroke and heart disease o Those who exercise regularly eat plenty of fruits and veggies do not smoke and drink alcohol in moderation are 4x less likely to die than those who don t o Excess weight can increase risk of bad health and death o Physical activity increases ability to keep moving in old age o Low SES tend to have poorer health shorter life expectancy and more activity limitations because of chronic disease and restricted access to health care People of lower SES tend to have more negative thoughts and more SES and health stressful environments Race Ethnicity and Health o Hypertension in 50 more prominent in African Americans o Biggest factor in African American health is poverty Generally related to poor nutrition substandard housing and poor access to health care Gender and Health o Women have higher life expectancy and lower death rates Genetic protection by second X chromosome which helps keep genetic diseases away Men take more risks o Women more likely to report poor health and go to doctors more often Not necessarily worse off but more health conscious o Osteoporosis condition in which the bones become thin and brittle as a result of rapid calcium depletion More rapid and prevalent in women cases are white women with fair skin small frame low weight and BMI and family history o Breast Cancer and Mammography Stress in Middle Age 1 in 8 American women develop breast cancer likeliness increases with age are hereditary causes factors alcohol overweight early menarche 1st period family history those with no children mammography diagnostic e ray examination o Hormone Therapy treatment with artificial estrogen sometimes in combination with the hormone progesterone to relieve or prevent symptoms caused by decline in estrogen levels after menopause o Stress response to physical or psychological demands Brain perceives danger Adrenal glands mobilize the body to fight it Higher stress levels and different stressors than younger or older adults Immune system provides defenses o Stressors perceived environmental demands that may produce stress In middle age family relationships work money and
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