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Chapter 13Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle

Adulthood

© 2006 Pearson Education/Prentice-Hall Publishing

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I. Physical Development in Middle AdulthoodA. The Double Standard

Middle adulthood > begin to be aware of gradual changes in body that marks the aging process.

Characterized by variations Better educated, more productive than a generation

ago. (Starts later, lasts longer.) Most educated, most affluent cohort.

Double standard in terms of appearance?

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B. Biological changes (senescence)

Bio functions decline Sarcopenia – age-related loss of muscle mass and

strength exercise reduces the decline

Cartilage and connective tissue becomes less efficient joint stiffness and difficulty in movement

Visible signs skin begins to wrinkle and sag areas of pigmentation in skin produce age spots gray hair

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B. Biological changes (cont’d)

Women 2X the rate of bone loss Bones break more easily and heal more slowly

Ht reaches a max during mid/ late teens to early 20’s; remains stable until ~ 55.

After ~ 55, bones become less dense; women lose ~2 inches; men lose ~1 inch in ht. Up to 4

Women more prone to declining height due to Osteoporosis

lack of calcium lack of exercise.

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Osteoporosis

Sloping shoulders Curve in the back Height loss Back pain Hunched posture Protruding abdomen

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C. The Senses1. Hearing

Presbycusis – Conductive hearing loss ~10% at 50 ~50% at 75 There will be large

increases! More men than women Men lose sensitivity earlier

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D. Reaction time

Reaction time increases due to slight loss of muscle; slower NS processing

Can compensate

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II. HealthA. Chronic health complaints

Arthritis Diabetes Hypertension Death rate between 40 and 60 is less than half

of what it was in 1940

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Differences in health among blacks and whites disappear when holding SES constant.

Gender also makes a difference in health. E.g., Arthritis more common

in men < 45; in women > 45

B. Ethnic and Gender Variations in Health

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Disability & Income Level

Why are workers living in poverty more likely to become disabled than those with higher income levels?

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C. Stress in Middle Adulthood

Stress continues to significantly impact health during middle adulthood.

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

Heart Disease: A woman’s issue too

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E. Heart Disease in Middle Adulthood

A) Modifiable Factors Stress High Cholesterol High Triglycerides Low HDL Cholesterol Lack of Exercise Diabetes High Blood Pressure Overweight or obesity Smoking /

Chewing Tobacco Type A personality/

Behavior

B) Non Modifiable Factors• Increasing age• Male• Family History

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Death From Heart Disease Worldwide

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E. Lung Capacity

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F. Sleep Problems

Why are there more sleep problems in middle adulthood?

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H. Cancer in Middle Adulthood

Cancer is associated with several risk factors. Genetics (family history) Poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol, sunlight, exposure to radiation,

occupational hazards (e.g., certain chemicals) With early detection (and sometimes without), survival rate is

VERY high for most forms of cancer E.g., breast cancer: 81% for < 45 years old; 45-64: 85%; > 65: 86%

Incidence of breast cancer increases with age: By 30 > 1 out of 2,212 By 50 > 1 out of 54 By 70 > 1 out of 14 Ever > 1 out of 7 (13%)

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Cancer in Middle Adulthood

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Psychological Factors Related to Cancer

Close family ties Group therapy reduces anxiety and

pain; increases survival rates. A + psychological outlook >

tendency to adhere to a strict treatment regimen.

A + psychological outlook may boost the body's immune system.

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Psychological Factors Related to Cancer

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Sexual Activity

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Female Climacteric & Menopause

Female Climacteric –transition from being able to bear children to being unable to do so. ~ 45. The transition lasts ~15-20 years.

Perimenopause – changes in hormones beginning about 10 years prior to menopause

Menopause = cessation of menstruation for 1 year Irregular periods for a couple of years Drop in Estrogen and Progesterone production

Side effects vary Racial and ethnic differences. ~Half of women have few, if any, symptoms Men too

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Results are complicated because many IQ tests include a physical performance portion.

Results may be due to physical changes not cognitive changes

III. Cognitive Development

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Cognitive Development

Cross-sectional studies - older people scored worse than younger people on traditional IQ tests.

“Intelligence peaks at 18, stays steady until mid-20s, and declines till end of life.” Crystallized or fluid? [next]

(fluid intelligence)

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Memory

Most people show only minimal losses, and many exhibit no memory loss in middle adulthood.

Sensory memory and ST memory > no decline in middle age.

Long-term memory Some decline in middle age. Storage is less efficient. A reduction in efficiency

of retrieval. Effective strategies stave off

some inefficiencies