Physical Abilities in Old Age

1
Physical Abilities in Old Age
2
Life Expectancy

• Functional Age- Actual competence and performance
• Young-old
• Old-old
• Life expectancy- years one is expected to live.
• 2003 77.5 (74.8 vs. 80.1)
• Infant mortality and death rates

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Variations on Life Expectancy

• Women 4 to7 years longer
• Other influential factors SES, Ethnicity,
  Nationality
• Why? Infant mortality, life-threatening disease,
  poverty-linked stress, violent death (in low-SES
  minority groups in US)

4
Variations on Life Expectancy

• Active Lifespan- vigorous, healthy life
• U.S. behind-heart disease, high-fat diet,
  inferior health policies for aged.
• In developing nations-less than 50 years

5
Life Expectancy in Late Adulthood

• Medical advances and improved life conditions?
  those aged 65 and over has increased
• Add 18 additional years to life
• Contrast to life expectancy?
• Over age 100, gender gap disappears
• Age 85 and ethnic minority groups
• Life expectancy cross-over
• Hereditary vs. Environment
• Long lived ancestors
• Twin studies

6
Maximum Lifespan

• Genetic limit to length of life, free of external
  risk factors
• Avg 85 years,
• longest-lived 122
• Lifespan of other species have been stretched-
  Human genetic limit?
• Notable cause in finding out?

7
Physical Changes-Nervous System

• Brain weight declines across adulthood
• Greater increase after age 60
• As much as 10 by 80
• As much as 20 by 90.
• Death of neurons and enlargement of ventricles

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Physical Changes-Nervous System

• Neuron loss occurs in varying rates depending on
  region
• Visual, auditory, and motor areas up to 50 die
• Parts of cortex (frontal lobe) far less change
• Cerebellum (balance and coordination) 25
• Glial cells decrease diminished efficiency of CNS

9
Physical Changes-Nervous System

• Overcoming declines
• Neural fiber growth same as middle-aged
• Neurons establish new synaptic connections
• Exercise increases blood circulation to the
  brain helps preserve structures and neuronal
  growth

10
Physical Changes-Nervous System

• Autonomic Nervous System
• Life support functions
• Elderly heat waves and cold spells
• Releases higher levels of stress hormones? arouse
  the body tissues that are less responsive

11
Sensory Systems

• See text- Focus on Vision, Hearing, and Smell

12
Sleep

• Older adults need less sleep than younger
  adults-T or F?
• More difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep,
  sleeping deeply
• Begins after 30-men, after 50-women
• Timing changes- early to bed, early to rise
• Changes in brain structures, increased stress
  hormones

13
Sleep

• Why do men experience more sleep problems than
  women?
• Enlarged prostrate gland constricts urethral
  tubes
• More sleep apnea
• 30-50 have 20 episodes or more/night
• restless legs