Late Adulthood

Overview

• Age range: 65 to end of lifespan
• Balance of gains and declines shifts
• Importance of culture for support, respect, and purpose
• Industrialized nations average nearly 20 more healthy years

Physical Changes

• Functional Age: competence and performance may not match chronological age
• Variation exists between and within individuals

Life Expectancy

• Older adults: 17% of U.S. population (4% in early 1900s)
• Increasing life expectancy due to lower infant mortality and adult death rates
• Improved nutrition, medical treatment, sanitation, safety
• 2023: U.S. life expectancy nearly pre-pandemic levels, but lags behind other countries

Factors Influencing Life Expectancy

• Heredity and Environment: genetic and lifestyle factors
• Sex: women tend to outlive men
• SES: higher education and income can increase life expectancy
• 10+ year difference between high and low SES in the U.S.
• Lifestyle: behaviors, jobs, social supports
• Public Policies: health care, housing, social services
• Developing nations affected by poverty, malnutrition, disease, armed conflict
• Healthy Life Expectancy: years expected in full health

Learnings from Centenarians

• Influences: biological, psychological, social
• Contributing Factors:
  • Genetics: efficient immune system, few brain abnormalities
  • Health: diet, low substance use, exercise
  • Personality: optimism, independence, emotional security
  • Social Support: close family bonds, happy marriage
  • Activities: community involvement, stimulating work, learning

Maximum Lifespan

• Biological limit: 122 years
• Focus on quality of life along with quantity

Quality of Life

• ADLs: Basic self-care tasks
• IADLs: Conducting daily life’s business
• Limitations rise with age

Aging and the Nervous System

• Neuron loss in:
  • Prefrontal cortex
  • Corpus Callosum
  • Hippocampus
• Other issues: temperature regulation, immunity, sleep problems

Sensory Changes

• Vision: glare sensitivity, color discrimination, dark adaptation, depth perception
• Hearing: declines in sound detection, speech perception
• Taste and Smell: decline in taste buds, odor sensitivity, dietary deficiencies

Effects of Sensory Changes

• Vision problems affect daily activities and leisure

Aging Body Systems

• Cardiovascular/Respiratory: reduced heart force, lung capacity
• Immune System: effectiveness declines
• Sleep: issues include insomnia, nighttime waking

Physical Appearance and Mobility

• Skin changes, hair thinning, weight decline
• Accidents: high rates in motor vehicles, falls

Cognitive Functioning

• Dementia: umbrella term for severe cognitive decline, most commonly Alzheimer’s
• Selective Optimization with Compensation:
  • Select: valued activities
  • Optimize: maximize returns
  • Compensate: offset losses

Memory

• Long Term Memory:
  • Explicit: conscious recall
  • Implicit: unconscious, supports recognition over recall
• Associative Memory Deficit: difficulty linking information
• Remote Memory: autobiographical recall strong for remote and recent events
• Reminiscence Bump: heightened memory from 10-30 years
• Prospective Memory: planning future actions, compensated by reminders

---

This study aid covers the major topics and subtopics discussed in the lecture on late adulthood, capturing key points and relevant details for further review.