Middle Adulthood (physical and Cognitive) Flashcards
Who are baby bloomers
People born between 1946 and 1965. Postwar babies
What was the population increase during the baby bloom
There was a population increase of 11%. On average 3.7 babies were born to each women compared to the 1.7 average now
What ages are considered Middle Adulthood
40-65 years
What is “inter-individual variability”
the idea that people do not age the same way or at the same rate
Physiological aging is defined by what changes in the body
Changes in….
Integumentary system (the body system of skin, hair, and nails
Senses and reaction time
and lung capacity
Most changes in aging are unavoidable, but what changes can be avoidable with exercise and proper diet
Metabolism, muscle mass, bone density, blood-sugar tolerance, and ability to regulate body temperature
What causes wrinklinh
UV rays, skin loosing elasticity, and fewer keratinocytes (recover/shed skin)
What is Presbyopia
Loss of elasticity in the lens that makes it harder to focus on nearby objects
What is Presbycusis
Loss of hearing over time
(30-35% of adults between ages 65-75 have hearing loss)
Why does reaction time increase with age
Because of changes in the nervous system
Why does breathing capacity decline
because lung tissue stiffens with age
Why do bones become more fragile
They eventually loose density and strength as well as calcium
As we age, why does our cardiovascular system become less efficient
Because heart and lung muscles shrink, less oxygen is taken into the lungs and the heart pumps less blood
As we age, the tissues in our body become less capable of taking up glucose from the bloodstream, why is this bad?
Because glucose is the basic fuel and energy source for cells
What is the #1 cause of death in middle adulthood
Cancer
