 Age 65 until Death  1900-only 1 out of 30 Americans was over the age 65.  out of 5 Americans will be over the age of 65.  Life expectancy is about 76 years of age

 Skin becomes less elastic thus wrinkles  Senses become less sharp  Sight and hearing are affected  Reflexes and reaction time are slower than younger people.  Bones become more brittle thus fractures and breaks can be more common.  Immune System is alos less effective.

 Regular exercise, healthy diet can help make older people feel better about themselves psychologically and physically.

 Scientists hope to understand the process of aging so they may be able to slow down or reverse some of the negative effects.  Theories of aging fall into 2 categories: programmed theories and cellular damage theories.

 Aging is the result of genetics  People’s biological clock move forward at a predetermined pace.  As cells become older they are less able to repair themselves thus being vulnerable to disease.  Heredity affects our hormones and some hormones are being studied in the aging process. (melatonin and growth hormone)  Immune system is also affected.

 Cells malfunction as a result of damage not heredity. (trauma, poisons)  Environment may affect our cells thus cells are not able to repair themselves.  As time passes cells and organs are worn out.  Free radicals are unstable molecules in our body.  Cross linking-proteins within a cell toughen body tissues thus causing aging.

 Complex biological process.  No single cause but a variety of theories.

 Some memory loss and intellectual ability.  Sharpest decline is in performing tasks rapidly like putting puzzle pieces together.  However, older people become more tolerant and thoughtful in their later years allowing them to gain insights from their experiences.  Come major cognitve problems are senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

 Major loss of memory  May also have speech, concentration problems  Senile dementia occurs after the age of 65, mostly occurring after the age of 80.  Aging does not cause dementia.  The longer a person lives the more time there is for dementia to occur.

 Common cause of dementia  Is connected with aging but not a normal part of the aging process.  Memory loss and confusion  People with Alzheimer's become lost, unable to recognize family and eventually unable to care for themselves.

 Linked to deterioration of cells in the hippocampus that produces the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Ach).  Tangles and plaques?

 7.7 million expected to have by 2030  1 in 8 people over the age of 65 have disease  5 million currently have Alzheimer’s  Younger sufferers more common but may be unreported

 Ego Integrity vs. despair  Ego Integrity-the belief that life is meaningful even when physical abilities decline.  Able to accept their approaching death as part of life.  Despair occurs when ego integrity has not been maintained and people realize they will lose everything that means something to them

 Older people tend to be more satisfied with their life if they have  Good health  Financially secure  Strong social report  Reshaping one’s life- focus on what matters to them.  Positive outlook-don’t use age as an excuse.  Self challenge-Continue to challenge yourself in new ways.

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