Explanations of Primary vs. Secondary Aging Primary Aging

Adjustment to Syllabus Physical Changes
&
u Schedule change –
we will swap chapters 7 & 10 Health & Well-Being in Old
Age
u Today we will cover chapters 3, 4 & 7, not 10
u On April 13th, we will cover chapters 9 & 10 Reading Assignment: Chapters 3 & 4

Primary vs. Secondary Aging Explanations of
Primary Aging
_______________________________
__________________________
u Primary Aging –
u The following theories seek to explain the
The gradual, shared, inevitable set of gains or declines aging process:
that begins early in adulthood and continues over the
years u Free Radicals
u DNA Repair
u Secondary Aging – u Natural Selection
u Genetic Limits
The product of environmental influences, health habits, u Caloric Restriction
or diseases, and is neither inevitable nor shared by all
adults

Free Radicals DNA Repair

________________________________ ______________________

u Based on random damage which occurs at the u Aging is based on the cell’s ability to repair
cellular level DNA damage

u What are Free Radicals and what do they u Breaks in DNA strands are common from
have to do with aging? environmental conditions

u Is it strange that this is associated with
Primary Aging and not Secondary Aging?

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Natural Selection Genetic Limits

______________________________ _____________________________

u Based on evolutionary theory u Senescence –
u The comparison of Progeria and
The state which occurs when cells quit
Huntington’s Disease dividing

u Telomeres –

The tip of a chromosome where DNA
repeats itself

Caloric Restriction Aging May Result From...

_________________________________ u Hereditary genetic program that sets limits on
growth, aging, & longevity
u Based on the concept that the hypothalamus
measures age in number of calories u Age-related changes in the functioning of the
metabolized by the body genetic program

u If we did a study………… u Age-related buildup of cross-links or free radicals
resulting in lowered molecular functioning

u Age-related lowered efficiency of the immune
system in identifying & destroying potentially
harmful or mutated cells

Aging May Result From... Terminology

u Age-related increase in autoimmune reactions in ______________________
which antibodies that destroy normal cells are
produced u Life span

u Age-related decrease in the efficiency of The upper boundary of years a given species can
endocrine control of vital functions expect to live (110 years for humans)

u Age-related decline in capacity of the nervous u Longevity
system to efficiently maintain bodily integration &
prevent bodily deterioration The average expected length of life at any
particular time, in any particular culture

u Life Expectancy

Average number of years a person of a given age
can expect to live

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What are we talking about? 80 Population Aged 65+

______________________________________ M 70 __________________________________

u Since 1900, the _________ in the United I 60 1960
States has increased almost 30 years. L 1970
1980
u When are Life Expectancy and Longevity 50 1990
identical? L 2000
I 40 2010
2020
O 30 2030
2040
N 20 2050
S

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0

Gender Comparisons Gender & length of life

_________________________________ __________________________________

90 1900 u Why? Potential reasons:
1920
A 80 1940 -Women are less likely to inherit a variety of sex-linked genetic
G 70 1960 diseases
E 60 1980
2000 -Estrogen protects women from some diseases
50 -Women survive difficult conditions well due to a lower
40
metabolic rate and greater percentage of body fat
30 -Women are less likely to participate in risky activities
20 -Women are less likely to hold hazardous jobs
-Women are more knowledgeable about and more frequently
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participate in health-oriented behaviors
0

Males Females

Summary of Age Changes in Physical Appearance
the Physical Body
u Wrinkled skin
u Height continues to be lost u Age spots
u Continuation of loss of elasticity of tissues u Gray hair
u Rapid loss of sensory acuity, loss of taste, smell & u Midriff bulge
u Many people find that they become more
hearing
u Loss of strength, stamina, fitness, attractive as they grow older
u Loss of nerve conductance speed
u Possible hormone changes
u Immune system declines
u Sexual activity declines

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Changes in Appearance Physical Changes
Over Adulthood
______________________________
_______________________________
u Height can decrease up to 2 inches
u Weight is shifted from the face (increasing the u Appearance
u Senses
appearance of wrinkles) , legs, & lower arms to the u Muscles & Bones
upper arms, thighs & abdomen u Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems
u Hair loss can be evident in young men and u Nervous System
in postmenopausal women u Immune System
u Neuroendocrine System

Sensory Changes - Vision Sensory Changes – Hearing

____________________________ ________________________________

u Vision – the last to develop and the first to decline u Hearing changes begin at about age 30
u A thickening and yellowing of the lens occurs in u Individuals begin with losing their ability to

normal aging hear high tones or to distinguish between
u Visual acuity – the ability to perceive detail sounds
u This is related to the lower levels of light allowed into u By age 65, approximately 25% of Americans
have a hearing impairment
the retina
u Cataracts – common but not normative, clouding of

the eye.
u Glaucoma – buildup of pressure inside the eye, can

destroy the optic nerve

Sensory Changes – Muscles & Bones
Smell and Taste
____________________________
____________________________
u Beginning at age 50, there is a significant
u There is little or no loss in taste loss of muscle tissue
u Taste receptor cells are constantly replaced
u Saliva secretion tends to decrease with age u With loss in bone density, women are at a
u Smell capability is highest between higher risk for frailty than men

20 and 40, decreases slightly between u Osteoporosis- abnormal loss of bone
40 and 70, then decreases drastically resulting in porousness & brittleness
after 70
u Can be prevented with calcium and Vitamin
D

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The Effects of Physical Aging More Effects of Physical
Aging on Behavior
on Behavior
____________________________
_______________________________
u Sleep
u Slowing Down
u Stamina, Dexterity, & Balance u Insomnia-inability to fall asleep or stay asleep
u Typically due to changes in the neurological system
u Stamina-the ability to sustain moderate or u Some sleeping problems are due to illness or
strenuous activity over time
medication – a part of secondary aging
u Dexterity-the ability to use the hands or body in
a skillful way. Typically lost due to arthritis

u Balance-the ability to adapt body position to
change

Physical Consequences of Physical Energy
Aging
u Aging reduces the supply of physical
u Physical Energy energy that the body can mobilize
u Sleep
u Stature, Mobility, & Coordination u Age usually does not affect ability to
u Physical Appearance perform work, but affects the time required
to recover from the work

Sleep Stature, Mobility &

u Age brings a marked increase of awakenings Coordination
during the night
u As adults grow older, they get shorter
u Heavy snoring increases with age u With age, arthritis increases & connective
u Sleep apnea (temporary suspension of respiration)
tissue in joints stiffen
increases with age
u Research suggests that the quality of sleep after u Coordination & performance are more
likely to be influenced by age changes in
age 50 could be improved if people would spend the brain-based functions, especially by a
less time in bed and rely less on medications slow down in decision making related to
performance

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Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis Cardiovascular & Respiratory
Systems
______________________
______________________________
u Estrogen (hormone replacement therapy) can prevent the
acceleration of osteoporosis in middle-age u VO2 max (maximum oxygen intake)
women and can increase bone density in older u There is a positive relationship between
women who have not used hormones
previously. VO2 max and our energy level

u Osteoarthritis is the visible wear and tear on the
joints

Nervous System Immune System

____________________________ ________________________

u Recent studies have shown that the loss of u Serves as protection to the body in two
brain cells (neurons) is not as significant as ways:
once thought.
u B cells make antibodies that fight off foreign
u Some parts of the brain even show growth organisms (viruses)
u Plasticity – the neurons ability to make
u T cells, produced in the thymus gland reject and
changes with age consume harmful cells such as bacteria or
u Pruning – the ability for neurons to shut transplanted organs

down if they are not needed u What does research say about stress and the
immune system?

Neuroendocrine System Menopause & Climacteric

_________________________________ u Confusion defining terms:

u Production of Hormones u Menopause = last menstrual cycle
u Men and women experience changes within
u Like menarche is first menstrual cycle
this system u Hard to tell when occurs, usually after one year

u Climacteric – the age related loss of without menstrual period
reproductive ability u Only women can experience
u One time event

u Climacteric = process marking the transition
from reproductive stage to non-reproductive
stage

u Phase in aging process

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Climacteric in Women Menopausal Symptoms

_____________________________ u Agreement on 3 symptoms at 1976 First
International Conference on Menopause
u Menopause – ovarian failure accompanied by a
decrease in estrogen and progesterone u Hot Flashes
u Profuse Sweating
u This process can take from 2 – 7 years u Atrophic Vaginitis
u Hot flashes are a major symptom of menopause
u Other reported symtoms
– they are an abrupt rise in body temperature,
accompanied by sudden sweating and flushing u Depression
of the skin u Insomnia
u Fatigue
u Mental Static

Symptoms cont. Menopause

u May occur before or after menopause 83% of women aged 56-65 agree that going
through menopause reallly does not change
u Medical explanation: caused by metabolic a woman in any important way compared to
changes resulting from hormonal changes, 58% of women aged 21-30
reduction in estrogen
21% of women aged 56-65 agree that after
u Behavioral Science explanation: meopause, a woman is more interested in
sex than she was before menopause
u 1. Premobid Personality model – symbolic compared to 14% of women aged 21-30
impact due to role loss and changes

u 2. Coincidental Stress model – symptomology
reactive to physical changes due to aging

u 3. Cultural Relativist model – symptoms
correlate with cultural values

Menopause Attitudes Toward Menopause

76% of women aged 45-55 agree that women u Age differences in attitudes
who have trouble in menopause are those
who are expecting it in comparison to u Post-menopausal recognize recovery, gain,
women aged 21-30, only 48% agree feeling better, calmer, freer than ever

Women aged 56-65, 67% agree that women u Mid-life recognize biological changes but see
feel better after after menopause than they no inevitable difficulties, lack of significance in
have for years compared to 32% of women loss of reproductivity
aged 21-30
u Younger women most negative views, expected
disruption, trouble, blended with ideas related
to decline associated with aging

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Hormone Replacement Male Climacteric
Therapy (HRT)
u Males experience decline in testosterone beginning
_____________________________ about age 40

u Estrogen & Progesterone Replacement is u May be connected to decline in physical response,
controversial since past studies of just longer time to achieve erection
estrogen replacement indicated a greater
risk of endometrial cancer u Some men experience nervousness, depression,
fatigue, hot flashes
u More recent research revealed that a
combination of estrogen and progesterone u Respond to treatment
eliminated the risk of endometrial cancer
u Research lacking

u Men never lose reproductive capacity

u quantity of sperm may be reduced
u technically no climacteric

Epidemiology of Aging Types of Diseases

u Epidemiology is understood as the use of _____________________________________________________________
statistical techniques to study the
distribution of diseases in human u Acute Conditions
populations utemporary conditions like a common
cold
u Basic goal of epidemiology of aging is to
understand what diseases are most common u Chronic Conditions
among older people and to assess their ulong term (more than three months),
impact often permanent, such as arthritis

Causes of Death in Older Adults

u Heart Disease
u Cancer
u Strokes
u Of all deaths among people over the age of 65,

three-fourths are caused by these three conditions

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Societal Aging Individual Aging Mental Health in Old Age

2 u Men who cope well with emotional trauma
Socio-cultural Environment live longer

3 4 5 u Optimists have better health in middle and
Health Psychological old age than pessimists
& Physiological Biological Effects
Attitudes & Mechanisms & Health u Good mental health predicts successful
Outcomes aging
Behaviors

Defining Health Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

u What exactly is Good Health? _____________________________________________________________________
u A state of complete physical, mental, and
social well being u ADL summarizes an individuals
performance in personal care and
u Health Status instrumental activities
u presence or absence of a disease
u degree of disability in an individuals level u Examples of Personal Care
of functioning u bathing
u eating

u Examples of Instrumental Activities
u shopping
uhome management

Walking Housework Functional Limitations

__________________________________________________
% with difficulty

85+
75-84
0 10 20 30 40 65-74

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Health & Behavior Linkages: A Simplified Schema Health Promotion

1 2 3 Guidelines
Health Behaviors
Intervening Health & Illness ____________________________________________________________
Mechanisms Outcomes
u Nutrition

uconsume wide variety of foods, especially
fruits and vegetables

uIncrease intake of unprocessed foods that
contain complex carbohydrates

uRestrict intake of sugar, fat, and
cholesterol-containing foods

u Exercise
u Stress Management

Sexual Activity Other issues related to sexual
activity
__________________________
_________________________
u Research reveals a decline in sexual activity
with age u Physical ability
u Desire
u What issues related to research methods u Availability of a partner
could apply to these studies? u Access to a conducive environment
u Other forms of sensuous activity

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