23 - Late Adulthood: Biosocial Development
Age 65 +
Prejudice and predictionsAgeism
◦Judging people only on the basis of their chronological age Any age Can become a self-fulfilling prophecy
Elderspeak◦Demeaning way of speaking to older
adults
Gerontology and GeriatricsGerontology
◦Scientific study of old ageGeriatrics
◦Medical specialty
DemographyStudy of population
Demographic shiftMore older people & fewer
younger peopleCentenarians
◦100 years or more◦Fastest-growing age group
Demographic pyramid (age-sex pyramid)◦Changing from triangle to rectangle
or square People are living longer Fewer babies being born
Aging and disease
Primary and secondary agingPrimary
◦Universal and irreversible physical changes
◦No specific physical illness, body just wears out
Secondary aging◦Specific physical illness◦Become more common with aging
High blood pressure and cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease
◦Leading cause of death in men and womenSix risk factors for cardiovascular disease:
◦Diabetes◦Smoking◦Abdominal fat◦High blood pressure◦Lack of exercise◦High cholesterol
High blood pressure is also effected by ◦Age and genes
Compensating for ageMore sleep
◦More sleep difficulties Take longer to fall asleep
Drive more slowly, not at night, or not at all
Compression of morbidityPeople are ill before dying a
shorter period of time◦Better lifestyle, medicine, and
technological aids
Osteoporosis“Fragile bones”Bones become more porous
How are senses affected?Taste, smell, touch, and hearing
are impairedTechnology helps
◦Visual problems Brighter lights, glasses
◦Hearing problems Hearing aids
Theories of aging
Wear and tearBody just wears out
Genetic clockChanges in DNA that regulates
aging, cellular reproduction and repair
Cellular agingMay be caused by loss if ability of cells to
duplicate perfectlyFree radicals
◦ Electrons that have become detached (freed) from their nuclei
Oxygen free radicals◦ Oxygen atom with unpaired electron◦ Can cause cancer, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis
Antioxidants◦ E.g. Vitamins A,C, & E◦ Nullify free radicals
Form bond with unattached oxygen electron◦ May not reduce aging
Immune systemB Cells (Bone)
◦Immune cells – create antibodies destroying bacteria and viruses
T cells (Thymus gland)◦Immune cells – attack infected cells
in the body
Cell replication problemsHayflick limit
◦Every species have a limited number of times cells will duplicate before they die. Humans = 50 times or less Related to errors in duplication (copying)
TelomeresOn ends of chromosomesShorten with each replicationWhen gone, duplication stops &
creature diesTelomerase
◦Enzyme that increases length of telomeres
◦May slow down aging
Calorie restriction1,000 calories a dayMay slow down agingReduces sex driveTemporary infertility
The centenarians122 years = maximum human
life spanDiet: Little meat or fat & more
fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish.Work throughout lifeFamily & community (social
activity)Exercise and relaxation