1. Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood Chapter 18

2. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Cognitive Mechanics- Decline may begin as soon as early midlife The hardware of the mind, reflecting the neurophysiological architecture of the brain. Involves the speed and accuracy of the processes involving : Sensory input Visual and motor memory Discrimination Comparison Categorization

3. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Cognitive Pragmatics - may decline, but can also improve with age The culture-based "software programs" of the mind. Including reading and writing skills Language comprehension Educational qualifications Professional skills The type of knowledge about the self, and life skills that help us to master or cope with life

4. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Speed of Processing Decline in late adulthood Due to a decline in functioning of the brain and central nervous system Health and exercise may influence the extent of decline

5. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Attention Older adults are less able to ignore distracting information More active and physically fit older adults are better able to allocate attention

6. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Selective Attention Focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring other that are irrelevant Older adults are less adept at selective attention than younger adults

7. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Divided Attention Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time Older adults divide attention less effectively than younger adults

8. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Sustained Attention Focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or other aspect of the environment On complex tasks, older adults performance usually drops

9. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Executive attention Aspects of thinking that include: Planning actions Allocating attention to goals Detecting and compensating for errors Monitoring progress on tasks Dealing with novel or difficult circumstances Older adults had deficiencies, with a link to low blood pressure likely related to reduced blood flow in the brain

10. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Explicit Memory-Memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state Implicit memory- Memory without conscious recollection; involves skills and routine procedures that are automatically performed Implicit memory is less likely to be adversely affected by aging than explicit memory

11. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Episodic Memory The retention of information about the where and when of life's happenings The older the memory, the less accurate it is. Semantic Memory Knowledge about the world-including one's fields of expertise, General academic knowledge of the sort learned in schools and "everyday knowledge"

12. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Decision Making Older adults preserve reasonable well When decision making is not constrained by time pressures. When the decision is meaningful for them, and When the decisions do not involve high risks

13. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Wisdom Expert knowledge about the practical aspects of life that permits excellent judgement about important matters Personality-related factors, such as openness to experience, generatively, and creativity are better predictors of wisdom than cognitive factors such as intelligence

14. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Education More older adults are returning to college today Study: older adults with a higher level of education had better cognitive functioning

15. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Work Higher level of cognitive stimulation at work and outside work was linked to improved cognitive functioning Employment gaps involving unemployment and sickness were associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment

16. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Health Decline in intellectual performance likely due to health factors rather than to age Lifestyles such as poor eating habits, inactivity, and stress are related to both physical and mental decline

17. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Use It or Lose it Changes in cognitive activity patterns might result in disuse and consequent atrophy of cognitive skills Reading books, doing crossword puzzles, and going to lectures and concerts could help

18. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Language development Knowledge of words and word meanings continue unchanged or may improved with age Some decline may be in retrieval of words Declines in language skills likely occur as a consequence of declines in: Hearing or memory A reduced speed of processing information Or result of disease

19. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Work and Retirement Percentage of older men and women is increased They are working later than they planned Cognitive ability is best predictor of job performance Older workers have lower rates of absenteeism, fewer accidents, and higher job satisfaction than their younger counterparts

20. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Work and Retirement Older adults who work have better physical profiles than those who retire Ageist stereotypes of workers and of task can limit older workers' career opportunities and can encourage early retirement... Or other forms of downsizing that adversely affect older workers

21. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Retirement in US Average age of retirement is 64 for men and 62 for women Approximately 7 million retired Americans return to work after they have retired.... About 4 years after retirement 1/3 indicated they were forced to go back to work to meet financial needs Other reasons include: Stay busy 'Give back'

22. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Adjustment to Retirement Retirement is a process, not an event! Married and retired do better than unmarried and retired Women plan for retirement less than men Higher levels of financial assets and job satisfaction were linked to men's psychological well-being in retirement Pre retirement social contacts were strongly related to women's psychological well-being in retirement

23. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood US retirement system Having enough money for retirement is a great concern The percent of workers who reported that they expect to retire after the age of 65 is growing Cultivating interests and friends unrelated to work improves adaptation to retirement

24. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Special Concern for Women and retirement Live longer More likely to live alone Tend to have lower retirement income Less likely to remarry More likely to be widowed

25. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Mental Health Although living longer....many are hampered by a mental disorder in old age Increasingly dependent on the help and care of others Note: Older adults do not have a higher incidence of mental disorders than younger adults

26. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Depression Depression is less common among older adults than younger adults More than half of the cases of depression in older adults is the first time in their lives having depression Men showed increases in depression from 60-80, but not women

27. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Depression-A mood disorder: Individual is deeply unhappy Demoralized, Self-derogatory, Bored They do not feel well, loses stamina, poor appetite Listless and unmotivated Often called "common cold" of mental disorders

28. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Predictors of depression in older adults Earlier depressive symptoms Poor health Disability Losses such as the death of a spouse Low social support Insomnia Curtailment of daily activities Living alone, in a nursing home, or in an institutionalized setting

29. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Treatment for depression 80% receive no treatment Exercise can reduce depression Engagement in valued activities and religious/spiritual involvement

30. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Depression and suicide 25% of individuals who commit suicide in the US are 65 years or older Most likely male, lives alone, has lost his spouse and is experiencing failing health

31. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Dementia A global term for any neurological disorder in which the primary symptoms involve a deterioration of mental functioning One can lose ability to care for themselves Unable to recognize familiar surroundings and people 23% of women and 17% of men..... 85 years and older are at risk

32. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Alzheimer's disease A progressive, irreversible brain disorder Characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning,....language, and eventually, physical function Women more than men because they live longer than men

33. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Alzheimer's risks Some family history Healthy lifestyle factors may lower risk or delay onset Study: Exercise 3 times per week may help

34. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Caring for Alzheimer Disease Family can be an important support system But can become emotionally and physically drained

35. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Parkinson's Disease -Another type of dementia Chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis

36. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Fear of victimization Sense of vulnerability Becomes a deterrent to travel, attendance at social events and pursuit of active lifestyle Fear of crime is common (but less likely than younger adults) But when they occur are likely to be serious offenses such as armed robbery Also are victims of nonviolent crimes such as fraud, vandalism, purse snatching and harassment

37. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Elder Abuse Home-care staff can be psychological abusers Usually family members Neglect, psychological abuse, or physical abuse Abuse by spouse often Institutional abuse (nursing homes, hospitals, long-term centers) Staff engaging in rough handling, hitting, or slapping patients,inappropriate treatment and psychological abuse such as isolation and threats

38. CognitiveDevelopment in Late Adulthood Religion and Spirituality Religion is often significant influence Self esteem highest when they had a strong religious commitment