Invitation to the Life Span by Kathleen Stassen Berger Chapter 14 – Late Adulthood: Body and Mind 1

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages 1.Trust v. Mistrust – Infant; hope, security 2.Autonomy v. Shame & Doubt – toddler; control, will 3.Initiative v. Guilt – 3-6y; assertiveness, purpose 4.Industry v. Inferiority – 6-12y; competence 5.Identity v. Role Confusion – teen; “Who am I?” 6.Intimacy v. Isolation – young adult; love 7.Generativity v. Stagnation – mid-adult; care and contributions to next generation 8.Ego Integrity v. Despair – old age; reflection on a good life 2

Ego Integrity vs. Despair Ego Integrity vs. Despair: 8 th of Erikson’s 8 psychosocial crises. In old age, people examine their lives: Integrity: They may either have a sense of contentment, gaining interest in the arts, children, and human experience as a whole Despair: disappointment about their lives and fearful of the future. 3

Optimal: New Cognitive Development Self-actualization: The final stage in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, characterized by aesthetic, creative, philosophical, and spiritual understanding Wisdom: An expert knowledge system dealing with the conduct and understanding of life. –Life review, self-actualization, and integrity are considered parts of wisdom. –Some elderly people are unusually wise. 4

Ageism Ageism: A form of prejudice in which people are categorized and judged solely on their chronological age Elderspeak: uses simple and short sentences, exaggerated emphasis, slower talk, higher pitch, and repetition Similar to baby talk Considered condescending 5

Health and Sickness Primary Aging: The universal and irreversible physical changes that occur to all living creatures as they grow older Secondary Aging: The specific physical illnesses or conditions that become more common with aging but result from poor health habits, genetic vulnerability, and other influences that vary from person to person 6

Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): leading cause of death for both women and men CVD Related to six risk factors (all more common with age): 1.Diabetes 2.Smoking 3.Abdominal fat 4.High blood pressure 5.Lack of exercise 6.High cholesterol 7

Living a Long Live: Maximums and Average Maximum life span: oldest possible age to which members of a species can live, under ideal circumstances. For humans, that age is approximately 122 years Average life expectancy: The number of years that the average person in a particular population is likely to live. –U.S. average life expectancy about 75 years for men and 81 years for women 8

The Aging Brain and Cognition One Universal Change is a Slowdown in Brain Processes: Reduced production of neurotransmitters (glutamate, acetylcholine, serotonin, and especially dopamine) Speed is crucial for many aspects of cognition (like memory, sensation, perception, and strategy) –Cognitive processes take longer (think more slowly) 9

The Impaired: Dementia Dementia: Irreversible loss of intellectual functioning caused by organic brain damage or disease. Dementia becomes more common with age, but it is abnormal and pathological even in the very old. Alzheimer disease (AD): Most common type of dementia characterized by gradual deterioration of memory and personality Marked by the formation of plaques of beta-amyloid protein and tangles of tau protein in the brain 10

Alzheimer Disease Stages of Alzheimer Disease Beginning Stages: –Forgetfulness –Personality changes –Memory loss eventually becomes dangerous Final stage –Full-time care is needed –Communication ceases –Identity and personality are lost –Death comes 10 to 15 years after the first signs appear 11

Vascular Dementia Vascular dementia (VaD): form of dementia characterized by sporadic, and progressive, loss of intellectual functioning caused by temporary obstructions of blood vessels Frontal lobe dementia: A form of dementia characterized by personality changes caused by deterioration of the frontal lobes and the amygdala. Also called frontotemporal lobar degeneration. 12

Other Dementias Parkinson’s disease: causes the degeneration of neurons in the area of the brain that produces dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is essential to normal brain functioning and motor control –Does not always lead to dementia –Starts with rigidity or tremor of the muscles as neurons that produce dopamine degenerate. –Younger adults with Parkinson disease may avoid dementia for years; older people develop dementia sooner. 13

Prevention of Impairment Steps: 1.Taking care of the overall health of the person 2.Getting a proper diagnosis 3.Starting appropriate treatment 14

TASK #10 Go to –Create a free user account Pick & Complete 2 Activities/Games – me BEFORE 7:00PM on 11/26/13 (Mental Health Day) me proof of your results What did you think? Did you like it? Why/why not? 15