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Late Adulthood: Cognitive Development. 65 years - death How does your brain change as you age?. What does the aging brain look like?. How does the brain slowdown?. Neurotransmitters are reduced Reaction time, talking, thinking, walking slows Varies markedly by individuals. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Late Adulthood: Cognitive
Development65 years - death
How does your brain change as you age?
What does the aging brain look like?
How does the brain slowdown? Neurotransmitters are
reduced
Reaction time, talking, thinking, walking slows
Varies markedly by individuals
Neuroscienceo Hypothalamus (memory)
& Prefrontal cortex (planning, coordinating thoughts)• Shrink faster than other
areas
o Varies based on • Education• Good health• Mental exercise
Multitasking Slows down people
of every ageo Older adults more
Older adults need to concentrate on one task at a time
Usual Information processing after age 65
How does memory change? Working memory
o Temporary storage of information for conscious useo Reduced - Takes longer to perceive & process sensationso Inhibits multitaskingo If older people can take their time and concentrate,
working memory seems as good as ever Long-term memory
o Emotional memories – endureo Recognition
• At every age, recognition memory is better than recall• Multiple choice vs. essay
What is the effect on mental control processes?
Memory, retrieval strategies, selective attention & problem solvingo Become less effectiveo Priming of memories helps
• Presenting memory triggers (word, smell, song, etc.)
What is the effect on mental output?
Normal decline in spatial orientation, reasoning, numerical ability & word fluency
Influenced by Healtho Better predictor of cognition than age
Influenced by trainingo Training can improve any cognitive decline
Spatial orientation test
Do you remember? How does the brain slow down? What areas in the brain shrink the quickest?
o What can help reduce this shrinkage? What is the difference between working memory
and long-term memory? What is a better predictor of mental decline than
age?
Impaired functioning: What diseases affect the brain?
Dementiao Organic brain damage or disease
• Abnormal and pathological even in old age
Deliriumo Loss of memory, often with hallucinations & irrational
behavior Alzheimer disease
o Causes deterioration of memory and personalityo Most common cause of dementia
• Caused by a proliferation of plaques and tangles of proteins in the brain
o Many genes may be involved
Plaques & tangles in Alzheimer disease
What are other dementias? Vascular dementia
o Caused by insufficient blood supply to the braino Repeated infarcts (Obstructions of blood vessels in the brain)
Frontal lobe dementiao Personality changeso Deterioration of frontal lobes & amygdala
• People become disinhibited, impulsive, emotionally indifferent Parkinson disease
o Does not always lead to dementia Lewy body dementia
o Caused by deposits of protein (Lewy bodies) in the neuronso Motor movements and cognition effectedo Falling, fainting, loss of inhibition, inappropriate sexual urges
Vascular dementia Caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain
What are the stages from confusion to death?
Beginningo Forgetful, personality changeso Memory loss – eventually becomes dangerous
Final stageo Full-time care neededo Identity and personality are lost
Do you remember? What is considered dementia? What is the most common cause of Alzheimer
disease? What is the most common cause of vascular
dementia? What are the effects of fontal lobe dementia?
What will help with prevention and treatment?
Regular exerciseo Reduces dementia by half
Avoid pathogens causing dementiao Mad cow diseaseo AIDSo Syphilis
What can help reverse impairment?
Depression = Most common reversible cause of dementia related symptoms
Lack of nutrientso As bodies age they become less efficient at
digesting food and using its nutrientso Better diet can help
Polypharmacyo Drug side effects can cause dementia
symptoms
What are the theories of optimal cognitive development?
Eriksono Integrity vs. despair
• Older people gain interest in the arts, children
Maslowo Self-actualization
• Creative, philosophical & spiritual understanding
What is a life review? Examination of your life Sharing your life with stories
Do you remember? What pathogens can cause dementia? What can be done to help reverse impairment? What are the highest levels in Erikson’s and
Maslow’s theories that an older person can achieve?
What is the concept of a life review?