1. PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE
THEME 6
PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE

2.                      
ADULTHOOD
OLD AGE
CHILDHOOD

3. ADULTHOOD Development ends in adolescence
STEREOTYPES
Development ends in adolescence
A period of stability and absence of changes
REALITY
Important changes occur
Development continues

4. OLD AGE Period of generalized deterioation
STEREOTYPES
Period of generalized deterioation
Little plasticity and capacity to learn
REALITY
Important individual differences
Existance of losses and gains: some abilities can improve

5. SPANISH POPULATION PYRAMID
1991
Sign of the civli war and postwar
Delayed Baby-boom
Sudden decline in birth rate

6. PIRÁMIDE POBLACIONAL ESPAÑOLA 1999
Baby-boom job search: lots of unemployment

7. PIRÁMIDE POBLACIONAL ESPAÑOLA 2005
Decline in the search for employment

8. SPANISH POPULATION PYRAMID 2025
Baby-boom begins to retire

9. PHILIPPINE POPULATION PYRAMID
                                                                                                          

10. LIFE EXPECTANCY
Number of years calculated that someone born in a specific year will live
Refers to the lifespan of 50% of the individuals of a generation
Genetic base of the differences in genders
Year
Men
Women
1900
34,7
35,7
1950
59,8
64,8
1990
73,4
80,5
Causes of increase:
Advances in medicine Decrease in premature deaths in childhood Better life conditions

11. ACTIVE LIFE EXPECTENCY
Number of years an individual can hope to keep being an active member of society
MAXIMUM LIFE LIMIT
Maximum number of a years an individual of a species has lived
Ronda years (122)
Long-lived communities exist: Vilacabamba (Andes), Abkasianos (Georgia), Hunzunuts (Cachemira)

12. PHYSICAL CHANGES IN ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE
Changes in the proportion of fat tissue and muscular mass
Ageing of the skin
Decrease in reaction speed
Loss of visual and auditory acuteness
Cardiovascular changes
Diseases related to age

13. PRIMARY AGEING THEORIES ABOUT AGEING
Normal and intrinsic process of genetically programed biological ageing that occurs regardless of good health
THEORIES ABOUT AGEING
Limited division and regeneration of cells
Decrease in the ability to confront errors in DNA
Influence of free radicals
Weakening of the immune and endocrine systems

14. Diet, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, sun, physical exercise, etc.
SECONDARY AGEING
Pathological decline related to age that is caused by extrinsic or external factors such as diseases, environmental influences, or life style
Diet, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, sun, physical exercise, etc.
Type A behavior and cardiovascular system
Stress and immune system.

15. CHANGES IN VISION I
Reduction of the pupil and increase in pupillary reflex latency
Obscuration of vitreous humor
Loss of flexibility and yellowing of lens
Loss of visual acuteness Reduction of field of vision (140º)
Greater sensibility to bright light (glare)
Worse perception of depth

16. Cataracts, glaucoma and senile macular degeneration
CHANGES IN VISION II
Difficulty in distinguishing cold colors
Worse sensitivity in contrasting chiaroscuro
Difficulty in the perception of ambiguous stimulus
COMMON DISEASES
Cataracts, glaucoma and senile macular degeneration
MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED BY DESIGNING ADECUATE SPACES FOR OLDER PEOPLE

17. CHANGES IN HEARING
Difficulty in perceiving high-pitched noises (presbycusis)
Buzzing
Difficulty in localizing sounds
Worse auditory discrimination
Increase in the amount of sound necessary in order to identify speech
IMPORTANT SOCIAL REPERCUSSION
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS CAN OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS

18. CHANGES IN OTHER SENSES
Decrease in sense of smell and taste: loss of appetite, difficulty in recognizing a poor diet, no recognition of bad body odor or gas
Worse sensitivity of pain
Worse sensitivity of temperature

19. MOTOR CAPACITY Increase in reaction time
Progressive loss of balance and worse motor coordination
Deterioration of the joints
Increased tendency for accidents
Importance of physical activity

20. AGEING AND SEXUALITY Feminine Sexuality: Menopause
Twelve months without menstruation
Occurs around 50 years of age
It is not a generalized crisis (individual and cultural differences)
Psychosomatic disorders (hot flashes, depressive symptoms, etc.)
Effects of hormone scarcity
Influences over sexual desire and activity

21. AGEING AND MASCULINE SEXUALITY
Changes are more gradual
Decrease in testosterone
Slower sexual response
Decrease in volume of sperm
Longer refractory period

22. AGEING OF BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
It’s difficult to separate the effects of ageing and those of disease
Reduction of cerebral mass
Death of neurons and loss of neuronal connections
Decrease in the concentration of neurotransmitters
Plasticity and possibility of new connections
Increase in slow-type cerebral waves (changes in the patterns of sleep-wakefulness)