PSYC 2314Lifespan Development

Chapter 23Late Adulthood:

Biosocial Development

Ageism

• Ageism: the prejudicial stereotypes many people have about older adults.– Make it difficult for the elderly to be seen as

they really are– Promote laws and attitudes that isolate them– Discourage their participation in work and

leisure activities

Ageism

• Reflects our culture’s veneration of youthfulness

• Increases age segregation of society• Ageism is on decline

– Gerontology– Demography

Ageism

• Age Distribution– Historically: demographic pyramid, with the

youngest and largest group at the bottom and the oldest and smallest at the top.

– Today: demographic square, with 1/3 below age 30, 1/3 between 30-59, and 1/3 age 60 and over.

Aging

• Primary Aging– The irreversible changes that occur with time

• Secondary Aging– Changes that are caused by particular

conditions or illness

Primary Aging

• Changes in Appearance– Skin becomes drier, thinner, less elastic, and

more wrinkled– “Age spots” appear– Hair becomes thinner and grayer– Settling of the vertebrae: shorter– Body shape: redistribution of fat

Primary Aging

• Body weight is lower: muscle tissue is reduced

• Muscle strength, esp. in the legs, is reduced• Loss of calcium

Primary Aging

• Three Major Eye Diseases– Cataracts: thickening of the lens that clouds

vision– Glaucoma: hardening of the eyeball because of

fluid build-up within the eye– Senile macular degeneration: deterioration of

the retina

Primary Aging

• Hearing Loss, or Presbycusis– Affects about 40% of those 65 years and older– Tinnitis: a buzzing or rhythmic ringing in the

ears– Have problems hearing conversation– Difficulty locating sounds and hearing high

frequency sounds– Deciphering electronically transmitted speech

Primary Aging

• Adjusting to Senescence– For optimal functioning, body changes require

active adjustment, not passive acceptance.– Active adjustment involves finding the right

balance between maintaining normal activities and modifying routines to fit diminished capacities.

Secondary Aging

• Aging and illness depends on many factors:– Genetic– Current lifestyle– Psychosocial

Secondary Aging

• Due to the tendency of the older person to accumulate risk factors for chronic diseases—for example, smoking or drinking—the incidence of long-standing illness increases with age.

• The reduced efficiency of the body’s systems not only makes the older person more susceptible to disease but increases the recovery time as well as the likelihood of death.

Secondary Aging

• Compression of Morbidity– Limiting of the time any person spends ill

Causes of Senescence

• Wear-and-tear theory– Body parts simply wear out with normal use

and exposure to disease, poor diet, environmental hazards, and other stresses.

• Cellular Theories– Aging is the result of the accumulation of

cellular accidents that occur during cell reproduction

Causes of Senescence

• Cellular Theories continued– Free radicals, atoms with unpaired electrons that are

capable of reacting violently with other molecules in the cell, splitting them or tearing them apart. The most damage occurs when free radicals of oxygen scramble DNA molecules. These oxygen free radicals produce errors in cell maintenance and repair that, over time, may cause cancer, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis. The gradual accumulation of damage as the individual ages may be a cause of senescence.

Causes of Senescence

• Epigenetic systems theory– Reproduction is essential for the survival of the

species, it was genetically important for the human community to protect those who might have offspring.

– Thus, deaths should occur either very early in life or after childbearing or childrearing.

Immune System

• B-cells: manufactured in the bone marrow, create antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses.

• T-cells: manufactured in the thymus gland, produce specific substances that attack infected cells.

Role of Genetics in Aging

• Maximum life span: the oldest age to which any member of a given species can live under ideal circumstances.

• Average life expectancy: how long the typical newborn of a particular population of a given species will live. In humans, this varies according to the historical, cultural and socioeconomic factors

Causes of Senescence

• Genetic Clock– A regulatory mechanism in the DNA of cells

regulates the aging process.• Hayflick Limit

– Cells stop replicating at a certain point. The limit for most human cells is approximately 50 divisions

Characteristics of Healthy, Long-Lived Adult

• Moderate diet• Hardwork that continues throughout life• Strong ties to family and community• Daily exercise and relaxation• A rural, mountainous environment

Nutritional and Exercise Needs

• A varied and healthy diet, emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish, and complex carbohydrates

• Regular exercise—three or more times a week for 30 minutes—to help maintain heart and lung functioning