5.5 The Adult

5.5 The Adult

1. Typical Changes

   • Appearance and Physical Changes
     • Noticeable around 40's
       • Skin: dry and loose
       • Hair thins and grays
       • Extra weight
         • Little time to exercise with family and work responsibilities
     • 60's: lose muscle mass
       • Caused by sedentary lifestyle
     • Involves gradual decline in the efficiency of most bodily systems
     • Decline in reserved capacity for organ systems
       • ability to respond to demands for extraordinary output
       • Avg older person tires more quickly after vigorous activity than avg younger person
   • Psychological Implications
     • Ageism
       • Elderly internalize them but believe they apply to others and not themselves
     • Most are able to retain sense of well-being and ability to function independently despite increase of impairments

2. The Reproductive System

   • Men
     • high levels of testosterone --> more aggressive and sexually active
       • Highest levels in June & July
     • Andropause
       • lower levels of testosterone, libido, energy, erections, memory problems, pubic hair
         • over 50
         • No clear connection with testosterone levels
         • changes are more gradual,variable, and less complete
           • fewer psychological effects and sexual activity
   • Women
     • PMS symptoms
     • Menopause btwn 45-54
       • Less feminine hormone mixture and more masculine
       • Hot flashes
       • No effect on levels of anxiety, stress, dissatisfaction
       • HRT
         • Hormone Replacement Therapy
         • cure for menopausal symptoms
         • Increases risk in breast cancers, heart attacks, strokes
       • Exercise and enough sleep: good solution

3. Slowing Down

   • Perform motor action slower
     • Brain slows
       • NS slows
   • Trouble with new and complex tasks
     • Ability to produce complex behavior reduces with age
       • NS slows
   • Physical and Mental exercise can speed reactions of the elderly on familiar motor tasks

4. Disease, Disuse, or Abuse?

   • Possible that disease, not age, accounts for declines in functioning
     • But increased vulnerability to disease is normal w/ aging
   • Most body systems thrive on use but many people become inactive as they age
   • Drugs typically affect older people more than younger people
     • Can interact with the aging body to impair functioning

5. Health and Wellness

   • Exercise results in less stress and enhancement in cognitive functioning
     • Less depression
     • Cannot stop aging
   • Frequent Diseases
     • Osteoprosis
       • serious loss of minerals leaves bones fragile and easily fractured
       • One fall can change an entire lifestyle
       • Weight bearing exercises and nutrition w/ calcium
     • Osteoarthritus
       • gradual deterioration of the cartilage that cushions bones from rubbing against each other
       • deforming, painful and limits activities

6. Successful Aging

   • Nun Study
     • Level of education affected longetivity and health
     • Activity resulted in longetivity
     • + attitude slows effects of aging