LATE ADULTHOOD

LATE ADULTHOOD

Age 65 until Death 1900-only 1 out of 30 Americans was

over the age 65. 2020-1 out of 5 Americans will be over

the age of 65. Life expectancy is about 76 years of

age

PHYSICAL CHANGES

Skin becomes less elastic thus wrinkles Senses become less sharp Sight and hearing are affected Reflexes and reaction time are slower

than younger people. Bones become more brittle thus

fractures and breaks can be more common.

Immune System is alos less effective.

PHYSICAL CHANGES

Regular exercise , healthy diet can help make older people feel better about themselves psychologically and physically.

THEORIES OF AGING Scientists hope to

understand the process of aging so they may be able to slow down or reverse some of the negative effects.

Theories of aging fall into 2 categories: programmed theories and cellular damage theories.

PROGRAMMED THEORIES Aging is the result of genetics People’s biological clock move forward

at a predetermined pace. As cells become older they are less able

to repair themselves thus being vulnerable to disease.

Heredity affects our hormones and some hormones are being studied in the aging process. (melatonin and growth hormone)

Immune system is also affected.

CELLULAR DAMAGE THEORIES

Cells malfunction as a result of damage not heredity. (trauma, poisons)

Environment may affect our cells thus cells are not able to repair themselves.

As time passes cells and organs are worn out.

Free radicals are unstable molecules in our body.

Cross linking-proteins within a cell toughen body tissues thus causing aging.

AGING

Complex biological process.

No single cause but a variety of theories.

COGNITIVE CHANGES

Some memory loss and intellectual ability.

Sharpest decline is in performing tasks rapidly like putting puzzle pieces together.

However, older people become more tolerant and thoughtful in their later years allowing them to gain insights from their experiences.

Come major cognitve problems are senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

DEMENTIA Major loss of memory May also have speech,

concentration problems Senile dementia occurs

after the age of 65, mostly occurring after the age of 80.

Aging does not cause dementia.

The longer a person lives the more time there is for dementia to occur.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Common cause of

dementia Is connected with aging

but not a normal part of the aging process.

Memory loss and confusion

People with Alzheimer's become lost, unable to recognize family and eventually unable to care for themselves.

CAUSES

Linked to deterioration of cells in the hippocampus that produces the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Ach).

Tangles and plaques?

STATISTICS

7.7 million expected to have by 2030

1 in 8 people over the age of 65 have disease

5 million currently have Alzheimer’s

Younger sufferers more common but may be unreported

SUCCESSFUL AGING

Ego Integrity vs. despair Ego Integrity-the belief that life is

meaningful even when physical abilities decline.

Able to accept their approaching death as part of life.

Despair occurs when ego integrity has not been maintained and people realize they will lose everything that means something to them

SUCCESSFUL AGING

Older people tend to be more satisfied with their life if they have Good health Financially secure Strong social report

Reshaping one’s life-focus on what matters to them.

Positive outlook-don’t use age as an excuse.

Self challenge-Continue to challenge yourself in new ways.

SUCCESSFUL AGING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBWEzt2U9RQ&feature=player_detailpage