1. Adulthood 127-132 All physical abilities essentially peak by our mid twenties. Then it all goes downhill.

2. Physical Milestones Menopause: the natural ending of a woman’s ability to reproduce Men do not experience anything like menopause.

3. Alzheimer’s Disease A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, language and physical functioning. Runs its course in 5 to 20 years. Deterioration of neurons that produce the neurotransmitter…. Acetylcholine Estrogen supplements may stop the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.

4. Cognitive Changes We tend to remember events from our teens and twenties. Difference between recognition and recall. Recognition remains stable. Recall declines with old age.

5. Do old people get stupid? Cross-sectional studies show decline. Longitudinal Studies show consistency. What is the difference? Cross-sectional studies: study with people of different ages studied at the same time. Longitudinal Studies: same people studied and retested over a period of time.

6. Types of Intelligence Crystallized Intelligence Accumulated knowledge. Increases with age. Fluid Intelligence Ability to solve problems quickly and think abstractly. Peaks in the 20’s and then decreases over time.

7. Life Expectancy Life Expectancy keeps increasing- now about 78. Women outlive men by about 4 years. But more men are conceived 126 to 100. In other words, men die easier.

8. Death Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Death/Grief. 1.Denial 2.Anger 3.Bargaining 4.Depression 5.Acceptance