Late Adulthood: Biosocial Development Chapter 23 Late Adulthood: Biosocial Development

Ageism Ageism—a term that refers to prejudice against older people because of their age Why is ageism so strong? cultural emphasis on growth, strength, and progress veneration of youth increasing age segregation

Gerontology Gerontology—study of old age Geriatrics—The medical specialty devoted to old age Two Different Perspectives doctors in geriatrics view aging as an illness gerontologists view aging as socially constructed problem

Gerontology, cont. Contrary to popular belief, many developmentalists now view aging, like all other periods, as marked by gains as well as losses

Demography A reason ageism is decreasing is that there are more aging individuals 7 percent of world’s population now over 65 years 13 percent in developed nations such as United States

Demography, cont. Changing shape of demographic pyramid the population stack has shifted from a pyramid to a square reflects changes in recent decades—fewer births and increased survival By 2030 the proportion of those over 65 is projected to double worldwide—to 15 percent

Dependents and Independence Dependency ratio—ratio of self-sufficient, productive adults (those between ages 15 and 65) to dependents—children and the elderly the greater the number of dependents compared to workers, the higher the dependency ratio

Dependents and Independence, cont. What are some of the problems cultures may face as baby boomers age? crisis in geriatric medicine Medicare, Social Security, and quality private health insurance in jeopardy? entire tax and caregiving burden may fall on shrinking middle cohort

Young, Old, and Oldest Distinctions based on age, health, and social well-being young-old—healthy and vigorous, financially secure, active in family and community life old-old—have major physical, mental or social loses, but still have some strengths oldest-old—dependent on others for almost everything

Young, Old, and Oldest, cont. Some gerontologists like the following terms better optimal aging usual aging impaired aging

Anti-Aging Measures Aging has many causes wear and tear cellular accidents declining immune system programmed senescence

Calorie Restriction Mammals can almost double their life span if they eat half as much food throughout adulthood proven for mice and rats; probably true for monkeys, chimps, and dogs true for humans—probably but must be carefully done Pack more nutrients into fewer calories

Calorie Restriction, cont. Older people take drugs that are considered harmless, but do affect nutritional requirements Mammals with reduced calorie intake are stronger, more vital, and younger in their appearance as long as they consume adequate vitamins and minerals

The Skin and Hair Wrinkles, hair becomes grayer and thinner

Body Shape and Muscles Alteration in overall body height, shape, and weight With weight loss may come muscle loss reduces flexibility Self-perception can lead to a feeling of fragility and a fear of falling

Dulling of the Senses Vision Hearing Only about 10 percent of elderly see well Cataracts—shrinking of lens, causing vision to be cloudy, opaque, and distorted. Hearing Presbycusis—age-related hearing loss 40 % over 65 experience it Tinnitis—buzzing or ringing. Experienced by 10% of elderly.

Theories of Aging Wear and Tear The genetic theory

Wear and Tear Theory Compares body to machine Body wears down because of accumulated exposure to inadequate nutrition, disease, pollution, and other stresses Wear out our bodies by living our lives

Genetic Aging What makes entire body age? focus on whole body rather than individual parts Some theorists propose that aging is the normal, natural result of the genetic plan for the species

Life Expectancy Genetic programming to reach biological maturation at fixed times and genetically programmed to die after a fixed number of years Maximums and Averages maximum life span (humans 115) average life expectancy affected by culture, historical and socioeconomic factors

Cellular Aging Cellular Accidents accumulation of minor accidents that occur during cell reproduction cause aging mutations occur in process of DNA repair instructions for creating new cells become imperfect cellular imperfections and declining ability to detect and correct them can lead to harmless changes, small functional loss, or fatal damage

Free Radicals Some of body’s metabolic processes can cause electrons to separate from their atoms and can result in atoms with unpaired electron—oxygen free radicals can produce errors in cell maintenance and repair, leading to cancer, diabetes, etc. Antioxidants—compounds that nullify the effects of oxygen free radicals by forming a bond with their unattached oxygen electron vitamins A, C, and E, mineral selenium

Errors in Duplication Hormonal changes triggered in brain that switch off the genes promoting growth The Hayflick Limit genetic clock—according to one theory of aging, a regulatory mechanism in the DNA of cells that regulates the aging process cells stop replicating at a certain point Evidence for genetic regulation from diseases producing premature aging

The Immune System Diminished immune system is weakened Two types of attack cells reduced in numbers B cells in bone marrow, which create antibodies that attack invading bacteria and viruses T cells, which produce substances that attack infection