1. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
Chapter 15
Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

2. Physical Development
Physical development in middle adulthood is a continuation of the gradual changes underway in early adulthood
In older adults, the hair begins to turn grey and thins out, and new lines appear on the face
There is a change in time orientation from years since birth to years left to live
These factors lead to a revised self-image
Prominent concerns of 40 to 65 year olds include getting a fatal disease, being too ill to maintain independence and losing mental capacities

3. Vision Changes in Middle Adulthood
Presbyopia: what we refer to as “old eyes”
Inability to adjust focus to varying distances
Pupil shrinks, lens yellows, vitreous changes:
poor vision in dim light
decline in color discrimination
There is a risk for glaucoma

4. Hearing Changes in Middle Adulthood
Presbycusis: “old hearing”:
initially, decline in sensitivity to high frequencies
gender, cultural differences: men show earlier, more rapid decline
hearing aids, modifications to listening environment, communication can help

5. Skin Changes in Middle Adulthood
Wrinkles:
forehead: starting in thirties
crow’s feet appear around the eyes in the forties
Sagging:
face, arms, legs
Age spots:
after age 50
Faster with sun exposure, and for women

6. Muscle–Fat Makeup in Middle Adulthood
Middle-age spread is common: adults gain fat in torso For men the fat appears in the upper abdomen and back For women fat appears at the waist and upper arms
There is a decrease in muscle functioning
Can be avoided by having a low-fat diet, and exercising,

7. Anti-Aging Effects of Calorie Restriction
Restricted diet benefits diverse non-primate species:
longer life
reduced incidence of disease
In primates and humans, more years of healthy life, not longer life

8. Skeletal Changes in Middle Adulthood
Bones broaden but become more porous:
loss in bone density
women at greater risk
Loss in bone strength:
disks collapse, height shrinks
bones fracture more easily, heal more slowly
Healthy lifestyle can slow bone loss

9. Reproductive Changes in Women
Drop in estrogen:
monthly cycles shorten, eventually stop
can cause difficulties:
complaints about sexual functioning
decreased skin elasticity, loss of bone mass
Gradual end of fertility:
menopause occurs
This occurs between the age range: late thirties to late fifties
earlier in non-childbearing women, and smokers

10. Menopausal Symptoms Linked to menopause hot flashes/night sweats
sexual difficulties
Not linked to menopause, other causes should be investigated
irritability
sleep difficulties
depression

11. Menopause Symptoms Around the World
Stop and think!
Why is it that there is a high percentage of women in African experiencing hot flashes?

12. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
Benefits
reduces hot flashes, vaginal dryness
some protection against bone loss
Risks
heart attack, stroke, blood clots
cancer
gallbladder disease
Alzheimer’s and other dementias
Alternatives
gabapentin, antidepressants, black cohosh for hot flashes
medications to prevent bone loss

13. Reactions to Menopause
60% of those whose periods had ceased feel very relieved
Most women do not want children and are thankful that they do not have to worry about birth control
Highly educated women usually have more positive attitudes towards menopause than women with less education
Research shows that African American women experienced less irritability and moodiness than Caucasian Americans

14. Reproductive Changes in Men
Decrease in sperm volume,
Gradual decline in testosterone:
sexual activity stimulates production
Erection difficulties:
frequent problems may be linked to anxiety, disease, injury, loss of sexual interest
Viagra and other drugs offer temporary relief

15. Health in Middle Age
85% rate as excellent or good, a decline from early adulthood
More chronic diseases than in early adulthood

16. Sexuality in Middle Adulthood
Slight drop in frequency among married couples:
stability of sexual activity is typical
best predictor is marital happiness
Intensity of response declines:
slower arousal occurs
Sex still important, enjoyable to most

17. Leading Causes of Death in Midlife, United States
Turn and Share
When you think about these statistics do you
have any personal histories that may confirm
these statistics? (40 – 65 years old)

18. Cancer in Middle Adulthood
Cancer is about one third of all midlife deaths in the United States
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both males and females worldwide
Cancer occurs when a cell’s genetic program is disrupted. This leads to uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that crowd out normal tissues and organs.
For cancers that affect both sexes, men are generally more vulnerable than women
The difference may be to genetic makeup, exposure to cancer causing agents as a result of lifestyle or occupation, and men’s greater tendency to delay going to the doctor.

19. Cancer in Middle Adulthood
Lung and stomach cancers are linked to low socioeconomic status
Prostrate cancers are linked with higher socioeconomic status
Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer in women, followed by colon and rectal cancer.

20. Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 25% of middle- aged deaths
“Silent killers”:
high blood pressure, cholesterol
atherosclerosis
Symptoms:
heart attack (blockage)
arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
angina pectoris (chest pain)

21. Osteoporosis Severe bone loss, fragile bones Causes: normal aging:
with age, bones become more porous, loss of bone mass
There is a decline in estrogen which is associated with menopause
Heredity plays an important role. A family of osteoporosis increases risk
Identical twins are more likely than fraternal twins to share this disorder
lifestyle—diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use can cause this disorder
Women develop osteoporosis earlier

22. Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis
Diet rich in vitamin D and calcium
Weight-bearing exercise ie. walking
Strength training
Bone-strengthening medications
Early prevention

23. Mini-Research and Tip Sheets for Staying Healthy
Cancer in Midlife
on/midlife.htm
Cardiovascular Disease
Osteoporosis
Presbyopia
Nutrition
*Hint this is a BIG link. Scroll through with your group and read for the facts you think are the most interesting for your peers to know about given our readings.
Presbycusis
Share & Post your tip sheet online in the discussion board thread!!!

24. Hostility and Health Expressed hostility:
Type A behavior pattern: That is extreme competitiveness, ambition, impatience, hostility, angry outbursts, and a sense of time pressure are prone to heart disease and other health problems
Expressed hostility:
angry outbursts, rudeness, criticism, contempt
predicts various cardiovascular problems

25. Managing Stress Reevaluate the situation.
Focus on events you can control.
View life as fluid.
Consider alternatives.
Set reasonable goals.
Exercise regularly.
Use relaxation techniques.
Constructively reduce anger.
Seek social support.

26. Coping Styles Problem-Centered Coping Emotion-Centered Coping
Identify and appraise problems
Choose and implement potential solutions
Emotion-Centered Coping
Internal, private
Control distress when the situation can’t be changed

27. Exercise in Midlife Physical and psychological benefits:
stress management
reduces disease risk
Barriers to beginning in middle age: time, energy, health, convenience, lack of facilities
Self-efficacy promotes exercise and is augmented by it
Activities that fit personal characteristics
Interventions to reach low-SES adults

28. Three Personal Qualities
Control
It is important to know that most experiences as controllable
Commitment
Find interest and meaning in daily activities
Challenge
View as normal part of life, chance for growth

29. Double Standard of Aging
Women have negative attitudes of aging compared to aging men who have more positive attitudes
Influenced by media, social messages
Double standards appears to be declining, with new, positive view of middle age

30. Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence
Depends on basic information-processing skills:
detecting relationships among stimuli
speed of analyzing information
working memory
Crystallized
Skills that depend on
accumulated knowledge
experience
good judgment
mastery of social conventions
Valued by person’s culture

31. Age-Related Slowing of Information Processing
Neural Network View
Neurons in brain die, breaking neural connections
Brain forms new but less efficient connections
Information-Loss View
Information lost at each step through cognitive system
Whole system slows down to inspect, interpret information

32. Attention in Middle Adulthood
More difficulties in
multitasking
focusing on relevant information
switching attention
combining visual information into meaningful patterns
inhibition
May be due to decline in processing speed
Experience, practice, training help adults compensate

33. Memory in Middle Adulthood
Working memory declines from twenties to sixties:
reduced use of memory strategies
slower processing, attention difficulties
Adults can compensate:
self-paced tasks
training in strategies
Few changes in
factual knowledge
procedural knowledge
metacognitive knowledge

34. Practical Problem Solving and Expertise
evaluate real-world situations
analyze how best to achieve goals that have high uncertainty
get help from the experts
Expertise:
extensive, highly organized knowledge base
provides efficient, effective approaches to solving problems
result of years of experience

35. Changes in Creativity More deliberate, thoughtful
Less spontaneous, intensely emotional
Sum up or integrate ideas
Less focus on new ideas
Goals more altruistic

36. Becoming a Student in Midlife
39% of U.S. college students are over age 25; 60% of them are women
Reasons are diverse:
job changes, seeking better income
life transitions
personal achievement, self-enrichment
Concerns:
academic abilities: aging and gender stereotypes
role overload

37. Sources of Support for Midlife College Students
Partner and children
Extended family
Friends
Educational institution
Workplace