1. Chapter 19: Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood McGraw-Hill © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

3. Cognitive changes in adulthood are multidimensional –Cognitive mechanics tends to decline with aging Includes speed and accuracy of processes Strongly influenced by biology and heredity –Cognitive pragmatics may improve with aging Reading, writing, and educational qualifications Professional skills and language comprehension Knowledge of self and life skills Influences of the culture

4. 7025 Mechanics Pragmatics Performance Life course (years of age) Theorized Age Changes in Cognitive Mechanics and Cognitive Pragmatics Fig. 19.1

5. Fig. 19.2 50807060403020 0 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.5 Age (years) Average reaction time (seconds) The Relation of Age to Reaction Time

6. Declines in older adults’ processing speed often results from decline in CNS & brain function Selective attention is affected by competing stimuli; older adults have less ability to focus Divided attention – older adults’ ability decreases when competing tasks become more complex Older adults sustain attention, however, as well as younger and middle-aged adults

7. Memory changes with age, but areas tend to be multidirectional –Not all aspects of memory decline with age –Decline occurs mainly in older adults’ episodic and working memory, not in semantic or implicit memory –Decline in perceptual speed is linked to memory decline –Successful aging does not mean eliminating memory decline, but reducing or adapting to it

8. 50 5 75 100 25 010152535 Number of years since Spanish was learned Percentage of original vocabulary retained Fig. 19.3 Memory for Spanish as a Function of Age Since Spanish Was Learned

9. Cognitive functioning in older adults is greatly influenced by –Education: older adults today were more likely to have attended college –Work: as industrial societies evolve into information societies – older adults’ jobs will emphasize intellectual abilities –Health: advances in medical technology and awareness of links between lifestyle and health help older adults live healthier and longer lives

10. Use it or lose it –Changes in cognitive activity patterns can cause increase or atrophy of skills –Certain mental activities can maintain current levels of cognitive skills – a critical factor may be amount of time spent in that activity –One longitudinal study linked lack of mental exercise and risk of Alzheimer’s disease

11. Fig. 19.4 1 2 3 4 5 0 2341 Control groupsAttention to distinctions Mean number of pictures recalled Improving Attention and Memory in Older Adults

12. Work and Retirement

13. Work patterns have changed, but people over 65 still find work a very important part of their lives Men over age 65 –From 1900 to 2000, the number who still work full-time decreased by about 70% –Probability of employment is positively correlated with education level and being married to a working wife The number of older adults who continue working part-time past age 65 has increased since the 1960s – about 35% now plan to work part-time, for interest or enjoyment

14. Is is estimated that 78 million “baby boomers” will reach retirement age by 2010, but federal laws will allow many to continue working Cognitive ability is the best predictor of job performance in older adults Work provides older workers with opportunities for –Productive activity –Social interactions –A positive identity

15. The U.S. Social Security system was established in 1935. On average, today’s workers will spend 10% to 15% of their lives in retirement The 1967 Age Discrimination Act prohibits firing workers due to age before mandatory retirement In 1986, the U.S. Congress banned mandatory retirement for all but a few occupations

16. Comparing the U.S. and other countries on the number of males working full-time past age 60: –Japan had 57% in the labor force –U.S. had 33% –England had 13% –France had 8% Older U.S. and Japanese adult males favored relying on savings during retirement Older French and English adult males favored relying on social security during retirement

17. Retirement is a process, not an event – flexibility is a key factor in whether one adjusts well Most research studies on adjustment to retirement have focused on men rather than women Older adults who adjust best to retirement –Have an adequate income –Are better educated –Are healthy and active –Have extended social networks and family –Were satisfied with their lives before retiring

18. Mental Health

19. The risk of having a mental health disorder is not higher in older adults, but the associated costs are over $40 billion a year Females show higher rates of depression than males from childhood to early adulthood and between ages 50 and 60 Men show increases in depression between ages 60 and 80, but not women Common predictors of depression in older adults are poor health, loss events, and low social support

20. Dementias are among the most debilitating mental disorders in older adults – more than 70 types exist Alzheimer’s disease: the most common dementia –Rates could triple within the next 50 years –Onset varies – generally between ages 30 and 60 –Brain shrinks as memory ability decreases –There is no known cure yet, and it may be genetic –Healthy lifestyle factors may lower the risk –Antioxidant vitamins may protect brain cells

21. Fig. 19.6 606570758085909555 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.1 Age (years) IL-6 Level Control group Alzheimer’s caregivers Comparison of IL-6 Levels in Alzheimer’s Caregivers and a Control Group of Noncaregivers

22. Facts about Alzheimer’s disease: –Special brain scans like MRI can detect brain changes before Alzheimer’s disease symptoms develop –Spinal fluids can also be tested for early signs of disease –Most patients with Alzheimer’s live about 8 years after being diagnosed –Decline is predictable and progressive, and affects physical, cognitive, and social functioning –A patient’s important support system is family 10% to 20% of dementias stem from vascular disease

23. Fig. 19.7 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 0 Perceived Stress Score 63214 Assessment Year 5 Control group Alzheimer’s caregivers Comparison of Perceived Stress Levels of Alzheimer’s Caregivers & Control Group of Noncaregivers

24. Multi-infarct dementia is more common in men with a history of high blood pressure Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movements, and facial paralysis Drugs have been developed to treat Parkinson’s disease in the early stages, but there is no cure yet – too much drug treatment can lead to schizophrenia

25. Older adults can be victimized in many ways as their vulnerability increases with age Fear of crime can prevent older adults from –Traveling –Attending social events –Pursing an active lifestyle Older adult crime victimization rates may be higher than reported by victims due to –Fear of retribution from criminals –Belief the criminal justice system can’t help

26. Elder maltreatment is primarily committed by family members Elder maltreatment –Includes neglect and physical abuse –Includes spousal abuse –Is most often suffered by women Older women were more likely than men to be victims of property damage and robbery – most perpetrators being unrelated young males aged 18 to 29 years

27. Older adults receive disproportionately fewer mental health services –Persons age 65 or older make up 11% of the population but receive only 2.7% of all clinical services provided by psychologists –Psychologists prefer to work with YAVIS clients rather than QUOIDs, perceiving a poor therapy success for older adults – stereotypical views? –Many different types of mental health treatment are available to older adults

28. Religion

29. Older adults are spiritual leaders in many societies around the world Religious patterns of older adults are of interest Religion is –More significant in older adults’ lives –Related to a sense of meaning in life –Related to higher levels of life satisfaction, optimism, and self-esteem –Associated with better health –Perhaps associated with living longer

30. The End