Late Adulthood and Aging

General Overview

• Age Range: 65 to end of lifespan
• Balance: Gradual shift from gains to declines
• Cultural Importance: Support, respect, purpose crucial for well-being

Life Expectancy

• Demographics: Older adults = 17% of US population (vs 4% in early 1900s)
• Trends: Increasing life expectancy due to improved nutrition, medical care, sanitation, and safety
• Post-Pandemic: 2023 life expectancy nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, but still behind peer countries

Influencing Factors

• Heredity & Environment: Genetics and living conditions affect lifespan
• Gender: Women generally outlive men
• Socioeconomic Status (SES): Higher education and income correlate with longer life
• Lifestyle: Health behaviors and social supports are key
• Public Policy: Healthcare, housing, and social services impacting life expectancy

Healthy Life Expectancy

• Definition: Years lived in full health (no disease or injury)
• Global Comparison: Japan ranks highest; US lags behind

Lessons from Centenarians

• Influences: Genetics, health, personality, social support, and activities all contribute to longevity
• Misconceptions: Reality of centenarian life may not align with idealized portrayals

Maximum Lifespan

• Current Understanding: Biological limit is around 122 years
• Debate: Focus on quality rather than quantity of life

Quality of Life

• Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Basic self-care tasks (e.g., bathing, eating)
• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): Complex tasks requiring cognitive abilities (e.g., shopping, managing finances)

Aging and the Nervous System

• Neuron Loss: Notable in prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, hippocampus
• Compensatory Mechanisms: Brain can sometimes adapt

Sensory Changes

• Vision: Issues with glare, color discrimination, depth perception; cataracts and macular degeneration are common
• Hearing: Decline in sound detection, especially high frequencies and soft sounds; reliance on non-verbal cues
• Taste & Smell: Decline in taste buds and odor sensitivity, affecting diet and self-protection

Effects of Sensory Changes

• Daily Life Impact: Affects activities and leisure
• Safety: Increases in accidents due to sensory decline

Aging Body Systems

• Cardiovascular/Respiratory: Decreased efficiency and capacity
• Immune System: Increased illness risk
• Sleep: Consistent sleep patterns important, but deep sleep decreases

Physical Appearance and Mobility

• Changes: Skin, hair, weight, and height decrease; accidents become more frequent
• Mobility Aids: Increasing need for assistance in daily activities

Cognitive Functioning

• Mental Disabilities: Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, affects cognitive abilities
• Memory Types:
  • Explicit (Conscious): Semantic (general knowledge) vs. Episodic (personal experiences)
  • Implicit (Unconscious): Less decline, relies on familiarity
  • Associative Memory Deficit: Difficulty linking information

Memory

• Remote Memory: Stronger for recent and distant past events
• Prospective Memory: Remembering future tasks; often aided by reminders

Risks

• Challenges: Inhibiting actions post-task completion; risk of repeating tasks