Chapter 15: Exam 6 Flashcards
Middle Adulthood
The adulthood stage between early and late adulthood begins at age 40 to 45 and ends at 60 to 65.
[60 to 65 as a transition period into late adulthood]
Interindividual Variability
The fact that people do not age in the same way or at the same rate
*Physiologically, aging is defined as changes in the body’s integumentary system [skin, hair, and nails] senses, reaction time, and lung capacity.
*Changes in metabolism, muscle mass, strength, bone density, aerobic capacity, blood-sugar tolerance, and ability to regulate body temperature may be moderated or reversed with exercise and diet
Skin and Hair
- Graying in middle adulthood due to a decrease of melanin (the pigment responsible for hair color) decreases.
- Hair loss accelerates with aging, especially in men
- Wrinkling associated with aging caused by exposure to UV rays
- Skin loses it elasticity because the body produces fewer proteins
- Skin becomes more dry and brittle because the body produces fewer keratinocytes (cells in outer layer of the skin that are regularly shed and renewed)
Sensory Functioning
- Changes in vision begin in the mid-30s and become significant problems in middle adulthood.
Presbyopia
Loss of elasticity in the eye lens that make it harder to focus on nearby objects [Latin for “old vision’]
Reaction Time
Beginning at age 25, we begin to lose neurons responsible for sensing signals such as sights and sounds and coordinating muscular responses to them.
Lung Capacity
Lung tissue stiffens with age diminishing its capacity to expand [decline by half between early and late adulthood]
Regular exercise can offset this loss and expand breathing capacity
Lean-Body Mass and Body Fat
- Beginning at age 20, we lose 7 lbs of lean body mass with each decade.
- Rate accelerates after age 45
Fat replaces lean body mass including muscle which causes a person’s BMI to rise
Strength Muscle
- Loss of muscle lessens the strength
- Change is gradual and exercise can readily compensate by increasing the size of remaining muscle cells
Metabolism
Rate at which the body processes or “burns” foods to produce energy
*Resting metabolic rate (aka Basal metabolic rate BMR) declines as we age
Bone Density
Lose density and strength at around age of 40
[Bones in spine, hip, thigh [femur,] and forearm lose the most density as we age]
Aerobic Capacity
- Cardiovascular system becomes less efficient as we age [Heart and lung muscles shrink]
- Capacity declines as less oxygen is taken into the lungs and the heart pumps less blood. However, regular exercise expands aerobic capacity at any age.
Blood Sugar Tolerance
aka Glucose, is the basic fuel and energy source for cells (supports cell activities and maintains body temperature)
- enters and circulates in the bloodstream with the help of insulin (a hormone secreted by the pancreas)
a. As we age, tissue in the body becomes less capable of taking up glucose from the bloodstream
b.) body tissue loses sensitivity to insulin, and the pancreas then has to produce more to achieve the same effect causing the blood sugar levels to rise [increasing the risk of adult-onset diabetes]
Health Recommendations
- Get regular checkups
- Pay attention to our diets
- Get some exercise
- Avoid smoking
- Drink in moderation
- Regulate stress
- Have supportive relationships
Truth or Fiction
People in the US profit from having the best healthcare in the world
Fiction
The fact is that many, perhaps most, Americans do not have access to “the best.”
Even those who are insured may not be able to chose doctors who are “outside” their plans.
Leading Cause of Death
- Cancer
- Heart Disease (#1 for adults 65 and older)
- Accidents
*African Americans have a greater risk for prostate cancer and start screening at 40 or 45
*Men should start screening for prostate cancer at about the age of 50
- Women begin screening for breast cancer at age 40
*Incidence of cervical cancer in Latina American women is higher than that of other demographic groups
*EKG (baseline) used to measure heart health at age 50 and should be repeated every 2 to 3 years
Cancer
Causes nearly 1 in 4 deaths in the US
Metastases
Movement of malignant or cancerous cells into parts of the body other than where they originated
*Begins when cells’ DNA changes genetic material and divides indefinitely (creating mutations caused by internal or external factors.)
Cell Mutations Internal Factors
a.) Heredity
b.) problems with the immune system
c.) hormonal factors
Cell Mutation External Factors
aka “Carcinogens”
a.) some viruses
b.) chemical compounds in tobacco and elsewhere
c.) UV solar radiation
Two controllable factors to cancer
a.) smoking contribute to 87% lung cancer deaths (including mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, and the bladder)
b.) diet contributes 30% of all kinds of cancers
Heart Disease
The flow of the blood to the heart is insufficient to supply the heart with oxygen it needs
(Commonly caused by Arteriosclerosis)
Arteriosclerosis
Hardening of the arteries, which impairs circulation and increases the risk of a blood clot (thrombus)
Atherosclerosis
The buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) on the lining of arteries results in the heart receiving insufficient blood, causing a heart attack.
(Most common type of Arteriosclerosis)
Signs of a Heart Attack
- Intense, prolonged chest pain (crushing, not sharp, the feeling of heavy pressure or tightness in the chest.)
- Pain extending beyond the chest to the left shoulder and arm, the back, even into jaws and gums
- Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting or Weakness
- Heavy perspiration, nausea, or vomiting
- Anxiety and Fear
Leukocytes
White blood cells that engulf and kill pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and worn-out cancerous body cells
Stress and Immune System
a.) Short-term stress boosts the functioning of the immune system [as flooring the gas pedal kicks a car into rapid acceleration.]
b.) Prolonged stress suppresses the functioning of the immune system as measured by substances in the blood that make up the immune system [like burning all your gas], Leaving us vulnerable to infections such as the common cold.
Stress hormones connected with anger [steriods, epinephrine, and norepinephrine] can constrict blood vessels to the heart leading to a heart attack
&
Chronic hostility and anger stress are connected with higher cholesterol and a greater risk of heart disease.
Sexuality
Gradually declines in middle adulthood
*Most common problem among men: erectile dysfunction
*Most common problem among women:
Lack of sexual desire and difficulty becoming sexually aroused
Sexual fulfillment involves psychological well being, feelings of intimacy, and cultural expectations
Menopause
The cessation of menstruation (commonly occurs between the ages 46 and 50, lasting about two years)
Night sweats, hot flashes, and hot flushes (reddening of the skin) may alternate with cold sweats leaving women feeling cold and clammy.
These symptoms are due to vasomotor instability that disrupts body mechanisms that dilate or constrict blood vessels to maintain an even temperature.
Perimenopause
Beginning of menopause, usually characterized by 3 to 11 months of amenorrhea or irregular periods
Climacteric
Gradual decline in the reproductive capacity of the ovaries, generally lasting about 15 years (“Critical Period”) due to the decline of estrogen.
Signs of Estrogen Deficiency
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Joint Pain
- Tingling in hands or feet
- Burning and itchy skin
- Heart palpitations
- Drier skin
- Loss of breast tissue
- Decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual arousal
Hormone Replacement Theory
Pros: consists of synthetic estrogen and progesterone reducing hot flashes, other symptoms, and lower risks of osteoporosis and colon cancer.
Cons: 16,600 postmenopausal women aged 50 - 79 found that exposure to a combo of estrogen and progentin significantly increases risk of breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots.
Gender Differences in Sex Hormones and Fertility
The decline in production of male hormones and fertility is more gradual [a man in his 70’s can still father a child]
However, many men in their 50’s experience problems in achieving and maintaining erections reflecting circulatory problems, hormone deficiencies and other problems
Truth or Fiction
Menopause signals an end to women’s sexual appetite
Fiction
Some women actually feel liberated because of separation of sex from reproduction
Sexual Dysfunction
Persistent or recurrent problem in becoming sexually aroused or reaching orgasms (chronic and cause significant distress)
Truth or Fiction
Sexual Dysfunctions are rare
Fiction
Surveys around the world show that sexual dysfunctions are actually quite common, especially as people age.
Biological Causes for Erectile Dysfunction
Affect the flow of blood to and through the penis
Causes:
a.) damage to nerves involved in erection
b.) clogged or narrow arteries leading to the penis deprive the penis of blood and oyygen
Multi-directionality
In the context of cognitive development, the fact that some aspects of intellectual functioning may improve while others remain stable or decline.
[Intellectual functioning reflects the interaction of heredity and environmental factors as in personal choice to engage in further studies to increase one’s facility in certain intellectual areas}
Plasticity
The fact that intellectual abilities are not absolutely fixed but can be modified.
Truth or Fiction
The average IQ score of a nation remains constant over time.
Fiction
IQ scores in the US have risen over the past couple of generations in part of schooling, partly because of the information explosion in the media.
Cohort Effects
Longitudinal Study by K. Warner Schaie of people who were middle-aged in 1947 and those who were middle-aged in 2002 (different cohorts)
- Participants were tested every seven years on cohort and longitudinal effects on intellectual functioning*
Findings:
a.) Adults born recently were superior in four out of five mental abilities:
1. inductive reasoning 2. verbal meaning
3. spatial orientation 4. word fluency
b.) Adults born earlier performed better in:
1. numerical ability
Overall, this reflects their education and the technology of today’s times.
Crystallized Intelligence
A cluster of knowledge and skills that depends on accumulated information and experience, awareness of social conventions, and good judgment.
Examples:
a.) Knowledge of specialized vocabulary in the field
b.) Choosing to eat healthful foods
Fluid Intelligence
A person’s skills at processing information. Skills at processing information.
Declines dramatically in late adulthood
Crystallized and Fluid Intelligence comparison by a computer
Crystallized intelligence is like the amount of information you have in storage
vs.
Fluid intelligence is like the sizes of your processor and your memory (working memory - how much you can keep in your mind at once)
Both work together to access and manipulate information and arrive at answers quickly and accurately
Truth or Fiction
Scores on verbal subtests of standardized intelligence tests can increase for a lifetime
True
These scores tend to reflect crystallized intelligence.
Truth or Fiction
All types of memory functioning decline in middle adulthood
Fiction
Long term memory and general knowledge often improve with age
Truth or Fiction
People in middle adulthood are no longer as creative as they were in early adulthood
Fiction
Many are as creative. Pablo Picasso, Toni Morrison, and Thomas Eddison all had great creative achievements during middle age.
Integumentary System
A body system that is made up of hair, skin, and nails
Most common type of Cancer
Lung and Bronchus Cancer
Women’s lifetime risk of developing cancer
1 in 3
Men’s lifetime risk of developing cancer
1 in 2
