Middle Adulthood Physical and Cognitive Development PDF

Preview

Summary

Describes how the body is when you are in middle adulthood, which changes occur during this time period in your life....

Description

Week 9 Lecture Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development -

Baby Boomers are those people who are born between 1946-1965; today they are middleaged adults. Cognitive development is at its peak during middle adulthood as long as diet and exercise are looked after.

Physical Development -

Interindividual Variability no two people age in the same way or at the same rate. Physiological aging changes in the body’s integumentary system, senses, reaction time, and lung capacity.

Sensory and Auditory Functioning -

Changes in vision occur mid-30’s. Presbyopia loss of elasticity in the lens that makes it harder to focus on, or accommodate to, nearby objects or fine print; result is middle-aged adults may need reading glasses. Presbycusis loss of hearing over time and impacts the elderly most.

Lung Capacity -

Lung tissue stiffens with age; diminishing capacity to expand, such that breathing capacity may decline by half between early adulthood and late adulthood; regular exercise can offset this loss; first beginning to exercise in middle adulthood can expand breathing capacity beyond what it was earlier in life.

Lean-Body Mass and Body Fat -

Lean-body mass, especially muscle, declines with age. Rate of loss accelerates after age 45; fat replaces lean-body mass, which includes muscles.

Muscle Strength -

Loss of muscle reduces strength. Change is gradual. Exercise can compensate by increasing the size of remaining muscle cells. Exercise will contribute to vigour, health, and a desirable body shape.

Bone Density Health

Bones begin to lose density at around the age of 40; as bones lose density, they become more brittle and prone to fracture. Bones in the spine, hip, thigh and forearm lose the most density as we age.

-

People aged 40-65 in developed nations is better than is has ever been.

Leading Causes of Death -

Cancer, heart disease, and accidents; all preventable....