Physiological and Psychosocial Development in Adults © Gallahue, D.L., Ozmun, J.C., & Goodway, J.D. (2012). Understanding Motor Development. Boston: McGraw-Hill. McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

18-2 Throughout Adulthood, Changes in the Body’s Physiological Systems May Influence Motor Performance and May Represent a Mechanism of the Aging Process.

 1900 – approximately 47 years  Present – approximately 77 years  Future projections – 80’s & 90’s  Reasons for changes  Improvements in health care  Disease reduction  Lifestyle changes

 Task specificity (specific demands of each task determine rate & extent of performance decline)  Inter-individual variability (differences between individuals performance declines, due to genetics & lifestyle choices)  Intra-individual variability (differences in the rate of performance declines within individuals, due to use/disuse, pathology)

 Senescence ( degenerative events overtake regenerative events)  Cellular level events ( genetic mutations, > free radicals)  Immune system events ( vulnerability)  Homeostasis (< in systems harmony, reciprocal relationships among systems)

 “Shrinkage” in height (disk compression, posture, spine misalignment)  Increased incidence of osteoporosis (< bone density, women most vulnerable)

 Decreased muscular strength (fewer & smaller muscle fibers)  Increased muscle atrophy or sarcopenia (inactivity vs. activity)  Muscular endurance (less affected by age than muscular strength)  May be possible to offset age-related declines by engaging in physically active lifestyle.

 Neuron loss (a lifelong accumulative process)  Decreases in brain mass (associated with neuronal loss)  Brain plasticity (ability of the brain to compensate for neuronal loss)

 Increase in brain age markers (abnormal formations: neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, lipofuscin )  Neurotransmitter changes (biochemical changes at the synapse, ex. <Dopamine & Parkinson’s disease)  Hypoxia (brain receives an inadequate amount of oxygen)

 Increased incidence of arteriosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”)  More atherosclerosis (age-related accumulation of fatty deposits on the artery walls)  Decreases in lung function (due more to life habits than aging alone)  Decreases in VO2 max (age-related decline in blood volume & muscle mass)

 General increase in body weight and BMI until approximately age 60  Decline after age 60  Intra-abdominal fat increases steadily with age  Decreased physical activity plays key role in weight gain  Decrease in basal metabloic rate with increase in age

 Decreased visual acuity (at all distances)  Tendency for Senile miosis (incomplete pupil dilation)  More cataracts (clouding of the lens)  More presbyopia (poorer near vision)

 Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)  Increased frequency of tinnitus (ringing in the ears)  More cerumen (ear wax)

 Vestibular system decline in function (associated with sensory cell loss, & age- related nerve degeneration  Loss of balance (dizziness & vertigo often associated with age-related changes in the vestibular system)

 Sense of well being  Body image  Locus of control  Depression

 Activity theory  Disengagement theory  Retirement  Depression  Successful aging  High cognitive and physical function  Engagement with life  Avoiding disease and disability

Developmental Change Is a Process of Performance Plateauing Followed by Regression in Physiological and Psycho- Social Processes Over Time in the Aging Adult.