23 - late adulthood: biosocial development 23 - late adulthood: biosocial development age 65 +
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Prejudice and predictionsAgeism
◦Judging people only on the basis of their chronological age Any age Can become a self-fulfilling prophecy
Elderspeak◦Demeaning way of speaking to older
adults
Demographic shiftMore older people & fewer
younger peopleCentenarians
◦100 years or more◦Fastest-growing age group
Demographic pyramid (age-sex pyramid)◦Changing from triangle to rectangle
or square People are living longer Fewer babies being born
Primary and secondary agingPrimary
◦Universal and irreversible physical changes
◦No specific physical illness, body just wears out
Secondary aging◦Specific physical illness◦Become more common with aging
High blood pressure and cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease
◦Leading cause of death in men and womenSix risk factors for cardiovascular disease:
◦Diabetes◦Smoking◦Abdominal fat◦High blood pressure◦Lack of exercise◦High cholesterol
High blood pressure is also effected by ◦Age and genes
Compensating for ageMore sleep
◦More sleep difficulties Take longer to fall asleep
Drive more slowly, not at night, or not at all
Compression of morbidityPeople are ill before dying a
shorter period of time◦Better lifestyle, medicine, and
technological aids
How are senses affected?Taste, smell, touch, and hearing
are impairedTechnology helps
◦Visual problems Brighter lights, glasses
◦Hearing problems Hearing aids
Cellular agingMay be caused by loss if ability of cells to
duplicate perfectlyFree radicals
◦ Electrons that have become detached (freed) from their nuclei
Oxygen free radicals◦ Oxygen atom with unpaired electron◦ Can cause cancer, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis
Antioxidants◦ E.g. Vitamins A,C, & E◦ Nullify free radicals
Form bond with unattached oxygen electron
◦ May not reduce aging
Immune systemB Cells (Bone)
◦Immune cells – create antibodies destroying bacteria and viruses
T cells (Thymus gland)◦Immune cells – attack infected cells
in the body
Cell replication problemsHayflick limit
◦Every species have a limited number of times cells will duplicate before they die. Humans = 50 times or less Related to errors in duplication (copying)
TelomeresOn ends of chromosomesShorten with each replicationWhen gone, duplication stops &
creature diesTelomerase
◦Enzyme that increases length of telomeres
◦May slow down aging
The centenarians122 years = maximum human
life spanDiet: Little meat or fat & more
fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish.Work throughout lifeFamily & community (social
activity)Exercise and relaxation