adult ch. 2 exam 1
concerns about aging
Aging is a complex process. No single theory of primary aging explains everything. Theories cross and complement each other and show signs of merging
sensory changes: hearin
Begins in 30s (mainly high pitched tones) Sensorineural hearing loss - damage to tiny hairs in cochlea that makes it difficult to hear where sounds are coming from and brings loud-soft discrimination loss By 65, about one third of adults have hearing loss Men more likely to experience it
cardiovascular and respiratory systems
Cardiovascular system Heart and its blood vessels With age wall of arteries become thicker and less supple and do not adjust to change in blood flow very well Respiratory System Lungs and muscles involved in breathing Weakens slightly with age Extreme exercise can weaken system in older age Both systems Regular exercise over a lifetime can reduce the effect of aging Stronger heart Lower blood pressure
secondary aging
Changes that happen more suddenly and are result of disease, poor health habits, and environmental influences ex. dementia
sexual functioning
Climacteric the syndrome of endocrine, somatic, and psychic changes occurring at menopause in women similar changes occurring in men owing to normal diminution of sexual drives with the aging process Female Climacteric (begins in 40s) cessation of ovulation and menstruation occurs one year after last menstrual period Male Climacteric (begins about 10 years later than women) enlargement of prostrate gland causes problems with urination testosterone levels decline gradually
athletic abilites
Decline in stamina - the ability to sustain moderate to strenuous activity over a period of time Due to changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as in muscles Decline in dexterity - the ability to use the hands or body in a skillful way Due to arthritic changes in joints Decline in balance - the ability to adapt body position to change
theory of primary aging: genetic limit
Every species has characteristic maximum life span set by genetic program (110-120 for humans) Leonard Hayflick (1961, 1977, 1994) Replicative senescence - state in which older cells stop dividing Hayflick limit - number of cell divisions species undergo before reaching replicative senescence Primary aging occurs when species limit is approached
margaret lock-cross cultural menopause
Fewer Japanese women (20%) reported experiencing hot flashes than western women (65%) Japanese women less likely to experience many other physical symptoms of menopause Why? Diet differences - soybeans Differing cultural views on aging Less fear of aging Greater respect for elders
sensory changes: vision
First to show signs of decline - loss of visual acuity (perceive detail) Lens - thickens and yellows Less light to retinas Presbyopia - reduced visual acuity or loss of near vision (bifocals around 45 yrs old) Reduced night vision - pupils lose ability to open efficiently Glaucoma - pressure inside the eye Cataracts - graduating clouding of the lens of the eye (most common - 50% of adults over 60) Macular degeneration - disorder of the retina, causing central loss of vision
weight and body comp
Gain weight in 30s & 40s, level 50s & 60s, decline by 70s. (Rossi, 2004) Metabolism slows down The battle of the bulge: Middle-age spreading of waist & hips (diet and exercise) Over 2/3 of adults in US are overweight BMI range, over 1/3 are in obese range.
individual differences for aging process
Genetics Genetics of diseases can effect ones physical changes throughout adulthood Lifestyle Affect the rate and or even the pattern of aging Exercise Diet Psychosocial factors Attitude Beliefs Economics Good health in all stages of adulthood is a key factor in the enjoyment of life Not distributed equally within a community or around the world Good health in later life is highly dependent on our earlier years Ability to afford preventative health care & good nutrition
primary aging
Gradual inevitable changes that happen to majority through adulthood Can be differentiated from disease Many different "normal" time lines for primary aging ex. wrinkles, gray hair
height, teeth, voice aging
Height Remains stable until 50s Between 50-70 decreases about 1" for women and ½" for men Teeth and mouth More likely to lose teeth to gum disease than to problems with the teeth themselves Yellowing due to staining Age spots on skin Voice tends to be thinner, weaker pitch lowers
brain and nervous system
Loss of brain cells (neurons) in primary aging is less than previously believed. Some neurons appear in duplicates (a feature called redundancy) so therefore neuron loss may not result in loss of function (Beers 2004) Slowing of transmission across the synapses between neurons. Plasticity Neurons are capable of making changes with age Example: Growth of new projections (dendrites
hormonal system-women
Menopause (occurring 12 months after the last period) Premenopause (still menstruating but irregularly) Permenopause (immediately prior to menopause) Main cause is ovarian failure Drop in estrogen as well as changes in proestrogen Average age 51.3 (ranging from 47-55) Loss of tissue in genitals and breasts - less dense and firm Reproductive organs become smaller
hormone replacement therapy
Most common in women Combination of estrogen and progestin Benefits Taken to reduce symptoms of the climacteric Can help reduce chance of osteoporosis Risks Increase risk of breast cancer Increase risk of heart disease and stroke
brain and nervous system cont.
Neurogenesis Growth of new neurons in adulthood Hippocampus - site where brain forms new neurons Important for forming memories Involves natural production of stem cells (immature undifferentiated cells that can multiply easily and mature into many different kinds of cells) Corticosteroids - hormones the body produces in response to stress and challenges to immune system Levels increase with age
caloric restriction
Not what we eat, but how many calories metabolized per day Can calorie restriction increase human longevity? For maximum benefit, would need to reduce daily calories by about 30% (from 2000 calories to 1400 calories) Difficult to sustain long-term Adverse side effects include cold intolerance, increase in stress hormones, decrease in sex hormones, etc.
taste and smell
Noticeable decline around 65 - 70 (begins after 30) Less saliva Fewer taste buds Sweet and salty flavors decline faster Half as many at 70 years compared to 20 years Less odor receptors Risk factors - male gender, smoking, industrial work, chemical manufacturing, urban living
sleep
Only 2/3 of adults of any age report that they get a good night's sleep on a regular basis Insomnia - inability to have normal sleep patterns Increases with age Partly due to primary aging to several systems More profound for men than women Sleep more interrupted at night (due to breathing disturbances,
bones
Peak bone mass - 30 years old Bone calcium loss - less dense, more brittle bones Bone density loss Loss is greater for women (disadvantaged) Bone health should be promoted throughout ones life
decrease in sex
Physical ability (i.e., erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness) Desire (i.e., parental and career pressures) Sexual Partner (i.e., loss of partner) Privacy (i.e., retirement homes) Other forms of sensual activity (i.e., masturbation, fantasizing, etc.)
immune system
Protects the body in two ways: B cells (produced in bone marrow) - make antibodies which react to foreign organisms T cells (produced in thymus gland) - reject and consume harmful or foreign cells Effects of age B cells show abnormalities with age T cells show reduced ability to fight new infection Immune system becomes weakened as chronic disease become more prevalent
theory of primary aging: oxidative damage
Random damage on cellular level Free radicals Molecules or atoms that possess an unpaired electron By-products of normal metabolism and response to environment Resistance to and repair of potentially damaging chemical reactions decline with age antoxidants: protect against o.d (blueberries) Little evidence causes aging, but shown to accompany it
hormonal system-men
Reduction of hormones Loss of reproduction ability (a time of life known as climacteric) Gradually for men over middle to late adulthood Quantity of viable sperm declines in 40's Volume of seminal fluid declines Gradual decline in testosterone Declining hormone levels Loss of muscle mass, bone density, sexual desire, appetite, red blood cells, and cognitive function Increase of body fat and depressive symptoms
theory of primary aging: senescence
Senescence (biological aging) - the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity Biology of aging is a young field
physical changes
Skin and hair change with age Wrinkles and age spots (40s & 50s) - Retin-A (tretinoin) Loss of elasticity Hair loss and graying (50s or 60s)
osteoporosis
The thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time. Effects over 44 million people (over 68% are women) Risk Factors Increased age Family history Female gender History of earlier bone fracture
crossover to feeling younger
Until about the mid-20s, people often report feeling older than their chronological age. Beginning in the mid-20s and continuing through the 80s, people often report feeling younger than their chronological age. Subjective age might increase in the late teens or early 20s as individuals gain independence by obtaining jobs, moving out of the family home, or enrolling in postsecondary schooling
muscles
With age there is a gradual decrease in muscle mass & strength With age muscles slowly lose their ability to contract as quickly Older people do not gain muscle mass as quickly Activity helps to rebuild muscle mass & strength Resistance training - contracting muscles by lifting or pushing and holding Stretching - lengthens muscles and increases flexibility
what causes crossover?
an older subjective age is linked with a more advanced pubertal status, higher levels of problem behaviors such as drinking alcohol, and more involvement with the other sex african americans and latinos
subjective age
defined as how old one feels influenced by important social and autobiographical reference points such as behaviors associated with legal status or social markers of chronological age (e.g., 50th birthday). Thus, changes across the life span in both subjective age and its referents are to be expected.
controversial theory: aubrey de grey
first humans to live to 1,000 years old have already been born Aging is a disease and should be approached like an engineering problem Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) approach an integrated set of medical techniques designed to restore youthful molecular and cellular structure to aged tissues and organs
genetic limit: telomeres
lengths of repeating DNA on the tips of chromosomes Timekeepers for cells With age and chronic stress, cells stop dividing and shorten
aging and brain
not as destructive as once thought Reduction in certain mental abilities Short term memory Ability to recall words
touch
skin serves a protective function by buffering us from the environment. Due to reduced sensitivity, heat sources such as heating pads can hurt the skin before realizing that damage is occurring. May develop a greater sensitivity to cool temperatures and drafts, caused by a decline in sweat gland activity, a decrease in the ability to maintain a normal body temperature due to poorer circulation, and a thinning of the skin. Wrinkling, drying, and scaling also occur. The skin tears and breaks more easily
charact. associated with adult status
taking responsibility for one's actions, making decisions on one's own becoming financially independent Gaining impulse control Specifically in regards to alcohol consumption
osteoarthritis
the soft cartilage that covers the ends of bones wears away with use and age causing pain, swelling, and lost of motion Middle-age (men) Older age (women) Effects 27 million in U.S. (most over 65) Risk Factors increased age female gender family history overweight BMI
digestion
very sensitive to emotions. May experience an upset stomach or lack of appetite when lonely, depressed, or worried. Less frequent bowel movements and more constipation