MIDDLE AGE COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL years 1

MIDDLE ADULTHOOD PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE Ages 30 to 50 years Continuation of early adulthood changes: time orientation physical cognitive © wong sze yuen/Shutterstock

VISION CHANGES IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD  Presbyopia: “old eyes” - page 402  inability to adjust focus to varying distances  Pupil shrinks, lens yellows, vitreous changes:  poor vision in dim light  decline in color discrimination  Glaucoma risk © Wilson Araujo/Shutterstock

HEARING CHANGES IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD Presbycusis: “old hearing”: initially, decline in sensitivity to high frequencies gender, cultural differences: men show earlier, more rapid decline hearing aids, modifications to listening environment, communication can help © Kzenon/Shutterstock

HOW’S YOUR HEARING? Take the test 5

SKIN CHANGES IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD Wrinkles: forehead: starting in thirties crow’s feet: forties Sagging: face, arms, legs Age spots: after age 50 Faster with sun exposure, and for women What is epidermis, dermis and hypodermis? © bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock

MUSCLE–FAT MAKEUP IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD Middle-age spread common: fat gain in torso: - Name trends for women and men? men: upper abdomen, back women: waist, upper arms Very gradual muscle declines Can be avoided: low-fat diet exercise, especially resistance training

WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING IS IMPORTANT FOR MIDDLE AGE? WEIGHT BEARING EXERCISE RESISTANCE TRAINING

SKELETAL CHANGES IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD Bones broaden but become more porous: loss in bone density women at greater risk Loss in bone strength: disks collapse, height shrinks bones fracture more easily, heal more slowly Healthy lifestyle can slow bone loss What is the disorder that leads to bone loss Oste

CLIMACTERIC AND MENOPAUSE Gradual end of fertility: menopause follows 10-year climacteric age range: late thirties to late fifties earlier in non-childbearing women, smokers Drop in estrogen: monthly cycles shorten, eventually stop can cause difficulties: complaints about sexual functioning decreased skin elasticity, loss of bone mass Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS Linked to menopause hot flashes/night sweats sexual difficulties Not linked to menopause, other causes should be investigated irritability sleep difficulties depression Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS AROUND THE WORLD Figure 15.1 (Adapted from Obermeyer, 2000; Shea, 2006.)

HORMONE THERAPY FOR MENOPAUSE Benefits reduces hot flashes, vaginal dryness some protection against bone loss Risks heart attack, stroke, blood clots cancer gallbladder disease Alzheimer’s and other dementias Alternatives gabapentin, antidepressants, black cohosh for hot flashes medications to prevent bone loss Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

REACTIONS TO MENOPAUSE Individual differences: importance of childbearing capacity, physical attractiveness highly educated women usually have more positive attitudes Cultural differences: ethnic differences in the United States: African- American and Mexican-American women hold especially favorable views SES, physical and psychological health linked to reactions

REPRODUCTIVE CHANGES IN MEN Decrease in sperm volume, motility starting in twenties semen after age 40 Gradual decline in testosterone: sexual activity stimulates production Erection difficulties: frequent problems may be linked to anxiety, disease, injury, loss of sexual interest Viagra and other drugs offer temporary relief

HEALTH IN MIDDLE AGE 85% rate as excellent or good, a decline from early adulthood More chronic diseases than in early adulthood Research on women increasing © Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN MIDLIFE, UNITED STATES Figure 15.2 (Adapted from U.S. Census Bureau, 2012.) Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CANCER IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD One-third of U.S. midlife deaths: more men than women higher in low SES Results from mutations: germline or somatic Define germline and somatic Often curable; survival brings emotional challenges © GWImages/Shutterstock

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Responsible for 25% of middle-aged deaths “Silent killers”: high blood pressure, cholesterol atherosclerosis Symptoms: heart attack (blockage) arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) angina pectoris (chest pain) © wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

OSTEOPOROSIS Severe bone loss, fragile bones Causes: normal aging: with age, bones more porous, lose bone mass menopause estrogen drop speeds loss heredity, body build lifestyle—diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use Women develop osteoporosis earlier; men often overlooked

PREVENTING AND TREATING OSTEOPOROSIS Diet: vitamin D calcium Weight-bearing exercise Strength training Bone-strengthening medications Early prevention © Maridav/Shutterstock

HOSTILITY AND HEALTH Type A behavior pattern can be…: angry, impatient, competitive prone to heart disease, other health problems Expressed hostility: angry outbursts, rudeness, criticism, contempt predicts various cardiovascular problems What type of personality are you? AB.html

AMY CUDDY’S VIDEO ON STRESS _are?language=en _are?language=en

MANAGING STRESS Reevaluate the situation. Focus on events you can control. View life as fluid. Consider alternatives. Set reasonable goals. Exercise regularly. Use relaxation techniques. Constructively reduce anger. Seek social support. © littleny/Shutterstock

COPING STYLES Problem-Centered Coping Identify and appraise problems Choose and implement potential solutions Emotion-Centered Coping Internal, private Control distress when the situation can’t be changed

EXERCISE IN MIDLIFE Physical and psychological benefits: stress management reduces disease risk Barriers to beginning in middle age: time, energy, health, convenience, lack of facilities Self-efficacy promotes exercise and is augmented by it Activities that fit personal characteristics Interventions to reach low-SES adults

HARDINESS Control Regard most experiences as controllable Commitment Find interest and meaning in daily activities Challenge View as normal part of life, chance for growth © bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock

REFLECTION What are areas that are in your control and areas that are not? What little/simple things make you happy on a daily basis? There is a saying that life is a series of challenges that we move from one to the other…what is your philosophy on challenges?

DOUBLE STANDARD OF AGING Aging men rated more positively, women more negatively Influenced by media, social messages Appears to be declining, with n ew, positive view of middle age © michaeljung/Shutterstock

LONGITUDINAL TRENDS IN MENTAL ABILITIES Figure 15.3 (From K. W. Schaie, 1994, “The Course of Adult Intellectual Development,” American Psychologist, 49, p Copyright © 1994 by the American Psychological Association. Reprinted with permission of American Psychological Association.)

ATTENTION IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD More difficulties in multitasking focusing on relevant information switching attention combining visual information into meaningful patterns inhibition May be due to decline in processing speed Experience, practice, training help adults compensate Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MEMORY IN MIDDLE ADULTHOOD Working memory declines from twenties to sixties: reduced use of memory strategies slower processing, attention difficulties Adults can compensate: self-paced tasks training in strategies Few changes in factual knowledge procedural knowledge metacognitive knowledge Define each of the above

PRACTICAL PROBLEM SOLVING AND EXPERTISE Practical problem solving: evaluate real-world situations analyze how best to achieve goals that have high uncertainty aided by expertise Expertise: extensive, highly organized knowledge base provides efficient, effective approaches to solving problems result of years of experience Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

BECOMING A STUDENT IN MIDLIFE 39% of U.S. college students are over age 25; 60% of them are women Reasons are diverse: job changes, seeking better income life transitions personal achievement, self-enrichment Concerns: academic abilities: aging and gender stereotypes role overload Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.