section nine

©robertharding/Alamy

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful

than to be forty years old.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
American Physician, 19th Century

Late Adulthood
The rhythm and meaning of human development eventually wend their way
to late adulthood, when each of us stands alone at the heart of the earth
and suddenly it is evening. We shed the leaves of youth and are stripped by
the winds of time down to the truth. We learn that life is lived forward but
understood backward. We trace the connection between the end and the
beginning of life and try to figure out what this whole show is about before
it is out. Ultimately, we come to know that we are what survives of us. This
section contains three chapters: “Physical Development in Late Adulthood,”
“Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood,” and “Socioemotional ­Development
in Late Adulthood.”

514
chapter 17
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
IN LATE ADULTHOOD
chapter outline
1 Longevity 3 Health
Learning Goal 1 Characterize longevity and Learning Goal 3 Identify health problems in
discuss the biological theories of aging older adults and describe how they can be
Life Expectancy and Life Span treated
The Young-Old and the Oldest-Old Health Problems
Biological Theories of Aging Substance Use and Abuse
Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight
Health Treatment
2 The Course of Physical
Development in Late
Adulthood
Learning Goal 2 Describe how a person’s
brain and body change in late adulthood
The Aging Brain
Sleep
Physical Appearance and Movement
Sensory Development
The Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
Sexuality

©Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Getty Images

 J onathan Swift said, “No wise man ever wished
to be younger.” Without a doubt, a 70-year-old body does not work
as well as it once did. It is also true that an individual’s fear of aging is often
greater than need be. As more individuals live to a ripe and active old age, our
image of aging is changing. Although on average a 75-year-old’s joints should be
stiffening, people can practice not to be average. For example, a 75-year-old man
might choose to train for and run a marathon; an 80-year-old woman whose
capacity for work is undiminished might choose to make and sell children’s toys.
Consider Mary “May” Segal, who was diagnosed with cardio-
vascular problems about the time she retired at the age of 65. Her
heart complications spurred her to begin an exercise program that
involved climbing the steps at Duke University’s football stadium
in Durham, North Carolina. May turned 100 years of age in 2013
and maintained a regular exercise regimen for more than 35 years.
When May was 78, she began exercising at the newly opened
Duke University Health and Fitness Center. At 100, she was still
going to the Center regularly, starting just after 9 a.m. May’s exer-
cise regimen included a swim, four laps walking around a track,
and a 30-minute workout on a NuStep machine that combined leg
May Segal engages in her exercise routine on her 100th
birthday at the Duke University Health and Fitness Center. exercise akin to climbing stairs with arm exercise similar to cross-
©Jill Knight/The News & Observer/AP Images
country skiing. May’s exercise speed was slower than it had been
when she was younger, and she was using a walker for her four
laps around the track. In addition, she reduced her workout regimen to three days
per week.
May’s motivation, resilience, and persistence is evident in her response to an
unexpected injury. When she was 94 she fell and broke her hip, which for elderly
adults can be a difficult setback with a prolonged recovery period. Her doctor
told her she would never walk again, but May recovered and resumed her regular
exercise program. After living a very long and fulfilling life, May passed away in
December 2015.

topical connections looking back

As more individuals are living healthier lives and medical discoveries are slowing down
the aging process, middle age appears to be starting later and lasting longer. Increasingly,
early middle age (40–54) is distinguished from late middle age (55–65). However, middle
age is a time of declining physical skills—such as loss of height, impaired vision and hear-
ing, and reduced cardiovascular functioning. Sleep also becomes more problematic.
Sexual changes occur as women enter menopause, many middle-aged men begin to expe-
rience erectile dysfunction, and couples engage less frequently in sexual intercourse.

516 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

preview
The story of May Segal’s physical development and well-being raises some truly fascinating ques-
tions about life-span development, which we will explore in this chapter. They include: Why do we
age, and what, if anything, can we do to slow down the process? How long can we live? What
chance do we have of living to be 100? How does the body change in old age? Can certain eating
habits and exercise patterns help us live longer? How can we enhance older adults’ quality of life?

1 Longevity Characterize
LG1  longevity and discuss the biological theories of aging.

Life Expectancy and Life Span The Young-Old and the Oldest-Old Biological Theories of Aging

In his eighties, Nobel-winning chemist Linus Pauling argued that vitamin C slows the aging To me old age is always
process. Aging researcher Roy Walford fasted two days a week because he believed calorie
fifteen years older than I am.
restriction slowed the aging process. What do we really know about longevity?
—Bernard Baruch
American Statesman, 20th Century
LIFE EXPECTANCY AND LIFE SPAN
We are no longer a youthful society. The proportion of individuals at different ages has become
increasingly similar. Since the beginning of recorded history, life span, the maximum number
of years an individual can live, has remained at approximately 120 to 125 years of age. But
since 1900, improvements in medicine, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle have increased our life
expectancy by an average of 30 years. Keep in mind that it is not just improvements in the
health and well-being of adults that have contributed to increased longevity but also the sub-
stantial reduction in infant deaths in recent decades.
Recall that life expectancy is the number of years that the average person born in a par-
ticular year will probably live. The average life expectancy of individuals born in 2016 in the
United States was 79 years (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). Sixty-five-year-olds in the United States
today can expect to live an average of 19.5 more years (20.6 for females, 18.4 for males) (U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). Older adults who are 100 years of age can
only expect to live an average of 2.3 years longer (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011).

Life Expectancy How does the United States fare in life expectancy, compared with Each of us stands alone at
other countries around the world? We do considerably better than some and somewhat worse
the heart of the earth,
than others. In 2015, Monaco had the highest estimated life expectancy at birth (90 years),
followed by Japan, Singapore, and Macau (a region of China near Hong Kong) (85 years) pierced through by a ray of
(Central Intelligence Agency, 2015). Of 224 countries, the United States ranked 43rd at 79 sunshine: And suddenly it is
years. The lowest estimated life expectancy in 2015 occurred in the African countries of Chad evening.
and Guinea-Bissau (50) and Swaziland and Afghanistan (51 years). Differences in life expectan-
cies across countries are due to such factors as health conditions and medical care throughout —Salvatore Quasimodo
the life span. Italian Poet, 20th Century
In a recent analysis, projections of life expectancy in 2030 were made for 35 developed
countries (Kontis & others, 2017). It was predicted that life expectancy in the United States
would increase to 83.3 years for women and 79.5 years for men by 2030. However, the United
States, although expected to increase in life expectancy, had one of the lowest growth rates in
life expectancy for all the countries in the study. South Korea is projected to have the highest
life expectancy in 2030, with South Korean women predicted to have an average life expectancy
of 90.8, the first nation to break the 90-year life expectancy barrier. So why the lower growth life span The maximum number of years an
in life expectancy for the United States and the very high growth for South Korea? The United individual can live. The life span of human
States has the highest child and maternal mortality, homicide rate, and body-mass index of beings is about 120 to 125 years of age.
high-income countries in the world. In South Korea, delayed onset of chronic diseases is occur- life expectancy The number of years that will
ring and children’s nutrition is improving. South Korea also has a low rate of obesity, and probably be lived by the average person born
blood pressure is not as high as it is in most countries. in a particular year.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 517


(a)
(b)
(C)
(a) People in Monaco, a very wealthy country
with virtually no poverty and superb health
care, have the highest life expectancy in the
world (90 years); (b) Life expectancy in Russia
is only 66 years of age, likely due to high
rates of alcohol consumption and tobacco
use; and (c) Haiti, a country with high rates of
poverty where many newborns have a low
birth weight, has a life expectancy of 63.
(a) ©Christophe Ena/AP Images; (b) ©Anatoly Semekhin/
ITAR-TASS/Newscom; (c) ©Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
518 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
Life expectancy also differs for various ethnic groups within the United States and for
men and women. For example, in 2014 the life expectancy of African Americans (73.1) in the
United States was 7.2 years lower than the life expectancy for Latinos (80.3) and 5.7 years
lower than for non-Latino Whites (78.8) (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
2017). Latino women had a life expectancy of 82.9 and non-Latino White women had a life
expectancy of 81.1, followed by African American women (78.1), non-Latino White men
(76.5 years), and African American men (72 years) (U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2017). The differences in life expectancies for various ethnicities have increased in
recent years, likely because of the powerful influence of education, and some experts argue
that closing the gap entirely may not be possible (Olshansky & others, 2012).
In 2014, the overall life expectancy for women was 81.4 years of age, and for men it was
76.7 years of age (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). Beginning in their
mid-thirties, women outnumber men; this gap widens during the remainder of the adult years.
By the time adults are 75 years of age, more than 61 percent of the population is female; for
those 85 and over, the figure is almost 70 percent female. Why can women expect to live longer
than men? Social factors such as health attitudes, habits, lifestyles, and occupation are probably
important. Men are more likely than women to die from most of the leading causes of death
in the United States, including cancer of the respiratory system, motor vehicle accidents, cir-
rhosis of the liver, emphysema, and heart disease (Pedersen & others, 2016). These causes of
death are associated with lifestyle. For example, the sex difference in deaths due to lung cancer
and emphysema occurs because men are heavier smokers than women. However, women are
more likely than men to die from some disorders such as Alzheimer disease and some aspects
of cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension-related problems (Ostan & others, 2016).
The sex difference in longevity also is influenced by biological factors (Beltran-Sanchez,
Finch, & Crimmins, 2015). In virtually all species, females outlive males. Women have more
resistance to infections and degenerative diseases (Pan & Chang, 2012). For example, the
female’s estrogen production helps to protect her from arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arter-
ies) (Valera & others, 2015). And the additional X chromosome that women carry in compari-
son with men may be associated with the production of more antibodies to fight off disease.
The sex difference in mortality is still present but less pronounced than in the past. In 1979,
the sex difference in longevity favored women by 7.8 years, but in 2013 the difference was
down to 4.8 years (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015).
Among various groups, the longest average longevity in the United States belongs to
Seventh Day Adventists, who have a life expectancy of 88 years. One reason for their longevity
is that their religious practices include positive lifestyle choices such as a vegetarian diet.
What about your own life expectancy? What is the likelihood that you will live to be 100?
To evaluate this possibility, see Figure 1.
Centenarians In developed countries, the number of centenarians (individuals 100 years
and older) is increasing at a rate of approximately 7 percent each year (Perls, 2007). In the
United States, there were only 15,000 centenarians in 1980, but that number rose to 50,000
in 2000 and to 72,000 in 2014 (Xu, 2016). The number of U.S. centenarians is projected to
reach 600,000 by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). The United States has the most centenar-
ians, followed by Japan, China, and England/Wales (Hall, 2008). It is estimated that there are
about 60 to 70 supercentenarians (individuals 110 years or older) in the United States and
about 300 to 450 worldwide (Perls, 2007). In a recent study of U.S. and Japanese centenarians,
in both countries, health resources (better cognitive function, fewer hearing problems, and
positive activities in daily living) were linked to a higher level of well-being (Nakagawa & oth-
ers, 2017).
Three major studies of centenarians are the New England Centenarian Study, the Georgia
Centenarian Study, and the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The New England
Centenarian Study (NECS) began in 1994 under the direction of Thomas Perls and his col-
leagues (Fagan & others, 2017; Perls, 2007, 2009; Sebastiani & Perls, 2012; Sebastiani & others,
2012, 2013, 2017; Terry & others, 2008). Many people expect that “the older you get, the sicker
you get.” However, according to the NECS, this is not true for a majority of centenarians. The
researchers have found that chronic high-mortality diseases are markedly delayed for many years
in centenarians, with many not experiencing disability until near the end of their lives (Sebastiani
& Perls, 2012). A NECS study of centenarians from 100 to 119 years of age found that the
older the age group (110 to 119—referred to as supercentenarians—compared with 100 to 104,
 Life Expectancy

Decide how each item applies to you and add or subtract the appropriate
number of years from your basic life expectancy.
1. Family history 7. Smoking
___ Add five years if two or more of your grandparents lived to ___ Subtract eight years if you smoke two or more packs of
80 or beyond. cigarettes per day.
___ Subtract four years if any parent, grandparent, sister, or ___ Subtract two years if you smoke one to two packs per day.
brother died of a heart attack or stroke before 50. ___ Subtract two years if you smoke less than one pack.
___ Subtract two years if anyone died from these diseases ___ Subtract two years if you regularly smoke a pipe or cigars.
before 60. 8. Disposition
___ Subtract three years for each case of diabetes, thyroid disorder, ___ Add two years if you are a reasoned, practical person.
breast cancer, cancer of the digestive system, asthma, or ___ Subtract two years if you are aggressive, intense, and
chronic bronchitis among parents or grandparents. competitive.
2. Marital status ___ Add one to five years if you are basically happy and content
___ If you are married, add four years. with life.
___ If you are over 25 and not married, subtract one year for every ___ Subtract one to five years if you are often unhappy, worried,
unmarried decade. and often feel guilty.
3. Economic status 9. Education
___ Add two years if your family income is over $60,000 per year. ___ Subtract two years if you have less than a high school
___ Subtract three years if you have been poor for the greater education.
part of your life. ___ Add one year if you attended four years of school beyond
high school.
4. Physique
___ Add three years if you attended five or more years beyond
___ Subtract one year for every 10 pounds you are overweight.
high school.
___ For each inch your girth measurement exceeds your chest
measurement deduct two years. 10. Environment
___ Add three years if you are over 40 and not overweight. ___ Add four years if you have lived most of your life in a rural
environment.
5. Exercise
___ Subtract two years if you have lived most of your life in an
___ Add three years if you exercise regularly and moderately
urban environment.
(jogging three times a week).
___ Add five years if you exercise regularly and vigorously (long- 11. Sleep
distance running three times a week). ___ Subtract five years if you sleep more than nine hours a day.
___ Subtract three years if your job is sedentary.
12. Temperature
___ Add three years if your job is active.
___ Add two years if your home’s thermostat is set at no more
6. Alcohol than 68˚ F.
___ Add two years if you are a light drinker (one to three drinks a
13. Health care
day).
___ Add three years if you have regular medical checkups and
___ Subtract five to ten years if you are a heavy drinker (more than
regular dental care.
four drinks per day).
___ Subtract two years if you are frequently ill.
___ Subtract one year if you are a teetotaler.
___ Your Life Expectancy Total

FIGURE 1
CAN YOU LIVE TO BE 100? This test gives you a rough guide for predicting your longevity. The basic life expectancy for men is 75 years, and for women
it is 81. Write down your basic life expectancy. If you are in your fifties or sixties, you should add ten years to the basic figure because you have already
proved yourself to be a durable individual. If you are over age 60 and active, you can add another two years.

for example), the later the onset of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well
as functional decline (Andersen & others, 2012). Perls refers to this process of staving off high-
mortality chronic diseases until much later ages than usual as the compression of morbidity.
Among the factors in the NECS that are associated with living to be 100 are longevity
genes and the ability to cope effectively with stress. The researchers also have discovered a
strong genetic component of living to be 100 that consists of many genetic links that each
have modest effects but as a group can have a strong influence (Sebastiani & Perls, 2012). For
example, a meta-analysis of five studies in the United States, Europe, and Japan concluded
that when their influence is combined, approximately 130 genes “do a relatively good job” of
differentiating centenarians from non-centenarians (Sebastiani & others, 2013). These genes
play roles in Alzheimer disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and various biological
processes. Other characteristics of centenarians in the New England Centenarian Study include
the following: few of the centenarians are obese, habitual smoking is rare, and only a small
percentage (less than 15 percent) have had significant changes in their thinking skills (disprov-
ing the belief that most centenarians likely would develop Alzheimer disease).
In addition to the New England Centenarian Study, another major ongoing study is the
Georgia Centenarian Study conducted by Leonard Poon and his colleagues (Baek & others, 2017;

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 519


Three participants in the New England
Centenarian Study: (top) Agnes Fenton of
Englewood, New Jersey, celebrated her 110th
birthday in 2015. She still cooked her own
meals and said that believing in God was a
key factor in her longevity. (middle) Louis
Charpentier, from the Boston area, was 104
and his main hobby was carving wooden
figures in his basement shop. Louis said his
memory was still very good. (bottom) Edythe
Kirchmaier, from the New York City area, was
Facebook’s oldest user at 105 years of age. In
July 2014 Edythe had more than 51,000
followers on Facebook. She volunteered
every week at her favorite charity, still drove
her car, and used the Internet to look up
information and facts.
(Top) ©Carmine Galasson/The Record/MCT/Newscom;
(middle) Courtesy of the New England Centenarian Study,
Boston University; (bottom) ©Isaac Hernandez
520 CHAPTER 17
Lee, Martin, & Poon, 2017; Lee & others, 2018; Lockhart & others, 2017; Nakagawa & others,
2018; Neltner & others, 2016; Ng & others, 2017; Poon & others, 2010, 2012; Toyoshima & oth-
ers, 2018; Yang & others, 2018). In a review, Poon and his colleagues (2010) concluded that
social dynamics involving life events (experiencing a higher number of negative life events is
linked to lower self-rated health), personality (conscientiousness is positively associated with
higher levels of physical and mental health), cognition (cognitive measures are better predictors
of mental health than physical health), and socioeconomic resources and support systems (social,
economic, and personal resources are related to mental and physical health) contribute to the
health and quality of life of older adults, including centenarians. In another study, U.S. centenar-
ians were more likely to talk about events related to marriage and children, while Japanese
centenarians were more likely to describe historical events, death/grief, and work/retirement
events (da Rosa & others, 2015). And in a recent study of U.S. and Japanese centenarians, in
both countries, health resources (better cognitive function, fewer hearing problems, and positive
activities in daily living) were linked to a higher level of well-being (Nakagawa & others, 2018).
Yet another major study is the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which
includes older adults, some of whom are centenarians (An & Liu, 2016; Fong & Feng, 2018;
Li & Otani, 2018; Liu & others, 2018; Wang, J., & others, 2018; Zeng & others, 2016; Zhong,
Chen, & Conwell, 2016; Zhong & others, 2017; Zhou, Wang, & Fang, 2018). In one investiga-
tion involving this sample, Chinese centenarians showed better coping and adjustment (greater
personal tenacity, optimism, coping with negative moods, secure relationships, and personal
control) than their Chinese counterparts in their nineties, eighties, or seventies (Zeng & Shen,
2010). In this study, 94- to 98-year-olds with better resilience had a 43 percent higher likelihood
of becoming a centenarian than their same-aged counterparts who were less resilient. In a
recent Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity survey, a higher level of education was linked
to greater longevity (Luo, Zhang, & Gu, 2015). And in another recent study with this sample,
severe loneliness at prior assessment points predicted poorer cognitive function in subsequent
assessments (Zhong & others, 2017).
How do centenarians view their lives? What are their opinions about why they have been
able to live so long?
• Elza Wynn concludes that he has been able to live so long because he has made up his
mind to do so. He says he was thinking about dying when he was 77, but decided to
wait a while (Segerberg, 1982).
• Ruth Climer was a physical education teacher for many years and later competed in the
Senior Olympics. To live to be 100, she says, it is important to stay focused on what is
good now and not give in to negative thoughts. Ruth also believes that staying busy and
always moving forward are keys to longevity (O’Dell, 2013).
• Billy Red Fox thinks that being active and not worrying are important keys to living to
be 100. At 95, he switched jobs to become a public relations representative. Even at
100, he travels 11 months of the year making public appearances and talking with older
adults (Segerberg, 1982).
• Simo Radulovich thinks that living to an old age requires having a sense of humor,
­living moderately, and sleeping well. He continues to engage in exercise games with
his friends every day and says he has never been afraid of anything but always had
­confidence that he could get through the tough times (O’Dell, 2013).
• Mary Butler says that finding something to laugh about every day has helped her live lon-
ger. She thinks a good laugh is better than a dose of medicine anytime (Segerberg, 1982).
• Duran Baez remarried at 50 and went on to have 15 more children. At 100 years of
age, he was asked if he had any ambitions he had not yet realized. Duran replied, “No”
(Segerberg, 1982).
• Jeanne Louise Calment, the world’s longest-living person who died at 122, attributed her
longevity to a number of things: Don’t worry about things you can’t do anything about.
Enjoy an occasional glass of port wine and a diet rich in olive oil. Laugh often. Regarding
her ability to live so long, she once said that God must have forgotten about her. On her
120th birthday, an interviewer asked her what kind of future she anticipated. Jeanne Louise
replied, “A very short one.” Becoming accustomed to the media attention she got, at 117
she stated, “I wait for death . . . and journalists.” She walked, biked, and exercised regularly.
Jeanne Louise began taking fencing lessons at 85 and rode a bicycle until she was 100.
Physical Development in Late Adulthood
 (a) (b)
(a) Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment, shown here celebrating her 117th birthday, was the oldest
documented living person. She lived to be 122 years of age. (b) Simo (b)Radulovich, 103 years of age in
2013, says that the best thing about living past 100 is being able to enjoy family and friends. He and his
wife were married more than 60 years.
(a) ©Jean Pierre Fizet/Sygma/Getty Images; (b) Courtesy of The Radulovich Family

In 2018, the oldest living person in the world was 117-year-old Nabi Tajima of Japan. The
oldest living person in the United States was 114-year-old Delphine Gibson of Pennsylvania.
What chance do you have of living to be 100? Genes play an important role in surviving developmental connection
to an extreme old age (Park & others, 2018; Patel & others, 2018). As we saw in the chapter on Heredity
“Biological Beginnings,” the search for longevity genes has recently intensified (Benetos, 2019; Scientists are increasing their search
Blankenburg, Pramstaller, & Domingues, 2018; Whitfield & Thorpe, 2017). But there are addi- for genes that are linked to how long
tional factors at work, such as family history, health (weight, diet, smoking, and exercise), educa- people are likely to live. Connect to
tion, personality, stress, and lifestyle (Divo & others, 2018; Jove & others, 2017; Scott & others, “Biological Beginnings.”
2018; Vidacek & others, 2017). Recall that in the epigenetic approach, there is an increased focus
on determining gene × environment (G × E) interactions that influence devel-
opment (Bacalini & others, 2017; Jasiulionis, 2018; Kirkland & Meyer-Ficca,
2018; Moore, 2017). A recent Chinese study found that a combination of Okinawa
particular FOXO genotypes and drinking tea was associated with the preven- 6 Breast Ovarian
tion of cognitive decline in the oldest-old, aged 92+ (Zeng & others, 2016). 3 Prostate Colon
To further examine the factors that are involved in living to a very old 4
age, let’s journey to the island of Okinawa in the East China Sea where 8
individuals live longer than anywhere else in the world. In Okinawa, there
Japan
are 34.7 centenarians for every 100,000 inhabitants, the highest ratio in the
11
world. In comparison, the United States has about 10 centenarians for every
3
100,000 residents. The life expectancy in Okinawa is 81.2 years (86 for
Country

8
women, 78 for men), also one of the highest in the world.
16
What is responsible for such longevity in Okinawa? Some possible expla-
nations include the following (Nishihara & others, 2016; Willcox & Willcox, United States
2014; Willcox & others, 2007, 2008): 33
7
• Diet. Okinawans eat very healthy food, heavy on grains, fish, and veg- 28
etables, light on meat, eggs, and dairy products. This diet actually pro- 19
duces mild caloric restriction (10 to 15 percent) (Willcox & Willcox,
2014). The risk of dying from cancer is far lower among Okinawans 0 10 20 30 40
than among Japanese and Americans (see Figure 2). About 100,000 Cancer death rates per 100,000 people
Okinawans moved to Brazil during the mid-twentieth century and FIGURE 2
quickly adopted the eating regimen of their new home, one heavy on
RISKS OF DYING FROM CANCER IN OKINAWA, JAPAN, AND
red meat. The result: The life expectancy of the Brazilian Okinawans
THE UNITED STATES. The risk of dying from different forms of
is now 17 years lower than Okinawa’s 81 years! cancer is lower in Okinawa than in the United States and Japan
• Low-stress lifestyle. The easygoing lifestyle in Okinawa more closely (Willcox, Willcox, & Suzuki, 2002). Okinawans eat lots of tofu and
resembles that of a laid-back South Sea island than that of the soy products, which are rich in flavonoids (substances that are
high-stress world on the Japanese mainland. believed to lower the risk of breast and prostate cancer). They
also consume large amounts of fish, especially tuna, mackerel,
• Caring community. Okinawans look out for each other and do not and salmon, which reduces the risk of breast cancer.
­isolate or ignore their older adults. If older adults need help, they Source: Willcox, B.J., Willcox, M.D., & Suzuki, M. (2002). The
don’t hesitate to ask a neighbor. Such support and caring is likely Okinawa Program. New York: Crown.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 521


Teru Kingjo, 88, continues to work as a
weaver on Okinawa Island, Japan. She, like
many Okinawans, believes that having a
sense of purpose helps people to live longer.
©Ana Nance Photography/Redux
developmental connection
Nature and Nurture
The nature-nurture issue is a key
aspect of understanding develop-
­ capacities, and resources are often different from those of older adults in their sixties and
ment throughout the human life
span. Connect to “Introduction” and
“Biological Beginnings.”
522 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
responsible for Okinawa having the lowest suicide rate among older women in East
Asia, an area noted for its high suicide rate among older women.
• Activity. Many older adults in Okinawa are physically vigorous, engaging in activities
such as taking walks and working in their gardens. Many older Okinawans also con-
tinue working at their jobs.
• Spirituality. Many older adults in Okinawa find a sense of purpose in spiritual practice.
Prayer is commonplace and believed to ease the mind of stress and problems.
THE YOUNG-OLD AND THE OLDEST-OLD
Do you want to live to be 100, or 90? These ages are part of late adulthood, which begins in
the sixties and extends to approximately 120 to 125 years of age. This is the longest span of
any period of human development—50 to 60 years. Increasingly, a distinction is being made
between the young-old (65 to 84 years of age) and oldest-old (85 years and older). An
increased interest in successful aging is producing a portrayal of the oldest-old that
is more optimistic than past stereotypes (Carstensen, 2014, 2015; Ferdows, Jensen,
& Tarraf, 2018; Kim, Park, & Park, 2017; Pollock & others, 2018; Rowe & Kahn,
2015). Interventions such as cataract surgery and a variety of rehabilitation strat-
egies are improving the functioning of the oldest-old (Bakondi & others, 2017).
And there is cause for optimism in the development of new regimens of preven-
tion and intervention, such as engaging in regular exercise (Erickson & Liu-
Ambrose, 2016; Erickson & Oberlin, 2017; Preston, Reynolds, & Pearson, 2018).
Many experts on aging prefer to talk about the categories of young-old and
oldest-old in terms of function rather than age. Recall that we have described age
not only in terms of chronological age but also in terms of biological age, psycho-
logical age, and social age. Thus, in terms of functional age—the person’s actual
ability to function—an 85-year-old might well be more biologically and psychologically
fit than a 65-year-old.
Still, there are some significant differences between adults in their sixties or seventies
and adults who are 85 and older. Paul Baltes and his colleagues (Baltes, 2003; Scheibe, Freund,
& Baltes, 2007) argue that the oldest-old (85 and over) face a number of problems, including
sizable losses in cognitive potential and ability to learn; an increase in chronic stress; a sub-
stantial prevalence of physical and mental disabilities; high levels of frailty; increased loneli-
ness; and the difficulty of dying with dignity at older ages. He contrasts the problems of the
oldest-old with the increase in successful aging of adults in their sixties and seventies. Compared
with the oldest-old, the young-old have a substantial potential for physical and cognitive fitness,
higher levels of emotional well-being, and more effective strategies for mastering the gains and
losses of old age.
The oldest-old today are mostly female, and the majority of these women are widowed
and live alone if they are not institutionalized. A recent list (2017) of the oldest people alive
today in the world had no men in the top 25. The majority also are hospitalized at some time
in the last years of life, and the majority die alone in a hospital or institution. Their needs,
seventies (Scheibe, Freund, & Baltes, 2007).
Despite the negative portrait of the oldest-old by Baltes and his colleagues, they are a
heterogeneous, diversified group (Lindahl-Jacobsen & Christensen, 2019; Ribeiro & Araujo,
2019). In the New England Centenarian Study, 15 percent of the individuals 100 years and
older were living independently at home, 35 percent with family members or in assisted living,
and 50 percent in nursing homes (Perls, 2007).
A significant number of the oldest-old have cognitive impairments, but many do not (Meija
& others, 2017; Nosraty & others, 2018). Almost one-fourth of the oldest-old are institutional-
ized, and many report some limitation of activity or difficulties in caring for themselves.
However, more than three-fourths are not institutionalized. The majority of older adults aged
80 and over continue to live in the community. More than one-third of older adults 80 and
over who live in the community report that their health is excellent or good; 40 percent say
that they have no activity limitations (Suzman & others, 1992). A substantial subgroup of the
oldest-old are robust and active. The oldest-old who have aged successfully have often been
unnoticed and unstudied.
BIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF AGING
Even if we stay remarkably healthy, we begin to age at some point. In fact, some life-span
experts argue that biological aging begins at birth (Schaie, 2000). What are the biological
explanations of aging? Intriguing explanations of why we age are provided by these biological
theories: evolutionary theory, genetic/cellular process theories, and hormonal stress theory.

Evolutionary Theory of Aging Recall from “Biological Beginnings” the view that the
benefits conferred by evolutionary selection decrease with age (Baltes, 2003). In the evolution-
ary theory of aging, natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions and non-
adaptive characteristics in older adults (Greenberg & Vatolin, 2018; Vanhaelen, 2015; Yanai &
others, 2017). Why? Because natural selection is linked to reproductive fitness, which is present
only in the earlier part of adulthood. For example, consider Alzheimer disease, an irreversible developmental connection
brain disorder that does not appear until late middle adulthood or late adulthood. In evolution- Genes
ary theory, if Alzheimer disease occurred earlier in development, it might have been eliminated Scientists are conducting research
many centuries ago. Evolutionary theory, however, has its critics (Cohen, 2015). One criticism on specific longevity and suscepti­
is that the “big picture” idea of natural selection leading to the development of human traits bility genes. Connect to “Biological
and behaviors is difficult to refute or test because evolution occurs on a time scale that does Beginnings.”
not lend itself to empirical study. Another criticism is the failure of evolutionary theory to
account for cultural influences (Singer, 2016).

Genetic/Cellular Process Theories One recent view stated that aging is best
explained by cellular maintenance requirements and evolutionary constraints (Vanhaelen,
2015). In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in research on genetic and cel-
lular processes involved in aging (Brunet & Rando, 2017; Falandry, 2019; Hernandez-Segura,
Nehme, & Demaria, 2018; Ong & Ramasamy, 2018). Five such advances involve telomeres,
free radicals, mitochondria, sirtuins, and the mTOR pathway.
Cellular Clock/Telomere Theory Cellular clock theory is Leonard Hayflick’s (1977)
theory that cells can divide a maximum of about 75 to 80 times, and that as we age our cells
become less capable of dividing. Hayflick found that cells extracted from adults in their fifties
to seventies divided fewer than 75 to 80 times. Based on the ways cells divide, Hayflick places
the upper limit of the human life-span potential at about 120 to 125 years of age.
In the last decade, scientists have tried to fill a gap in cellular clock theory (Nene & oth-
ers, 2018; Toupance & Benetos, 2019; Zgheib & others, 2018). Hayflick did not know why cells
die. The answer may lie at the tips of chromosomes, at telomeres, which are DNA sequences
that cap chromosomes (Gonzales-Ebsen, Gregersen, & Olsen, 2017; Liu, 2017).
Each time a cell divides, the telomeres become shorter and shorter (Chang & Blau, 2018;
Opresko & Shay, 2017) (see Figure 3). After about 70 or 80 replications, the telomeres are
dramatically reduced, and the cell no longer can reproduce. The consensus of research is that
telomere shortening does play a role in aging (De Vitis, Berardinelli, & Sgura, 2018; Matsumoto
& others, 2018; Yang, Song, & Johnson, 2016). For example, one study revealed that healthy
centenarians had longer telomeres than unhealthy centenarians (Terry & others, 2008). FIGURE 3
Further, a recent study confirmed that shorter telomere length was linked to Alzheimer disease TELOMERES AND AGING. The photograph
(Scarabino & others, 2017). And previous research even indicated that shorter telomere length shows actual telomeres lighting up the tips of
was linked to having worse social relationships, being less optimistic, and showing greater chromosomes.
Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Shay
hostility (Uchino & others, 2012; Zalli & others, 2014).
Injecting the enzyme telomerase into human cells grown in the laboratory has been found to
substantially extend the life of the cells beyond the approximately 70 to 80 normal cell divisions
(Harrison, 2012). However, telomerase is present in approximately 85 to 90 percent of cancerous evolutionary theory of aging This theory
states that natural selection has not
cells and thus may not produce healthy life extension of cells (Akincilar, Unal, & Tergaonkar, 2016;
eliminated many harmful conditions and
Cleal, Norris, & Baird, 2018; Haraguchi & others, 2017; Ozturk, Li, & Tergaonkar, 2017). To capi- nonadaptive characteristics in older adults;
talize on the high presence of telomerase in cancerous cells, researchers currently are investigating thus, the benefits conferred by evolution
telomerase-related gene therapies that inhibit telomerase and lead to the death of cancerous cells decline with age because natural selection is
while keeping healthy cells alive (Barthel & others, 2017; de Vitis, Berardinelli, & Sgura, 2018; linked to reproductive fitness.
Pestana & others, 2017; Roh & others, 2017). A recent focus of these gene therapies is on stem
cellular clock theory Leonard Hayflick’s
cells and their renewal (Li & Denchi, 2018; Liu, 2017; Okada & others, 2016). Telomeres and
theory that the maximum number of times
telomerase are increasingly thought to be key components of the stem cell regeneration process, that human cells can divide is about 75 to 80.
providing a possible avenue to restrain cancer and delay aging (Gunes, Avila, & Rudolph, 2018; Li As we age, our cells have less capacity to
& others, 2017; Marion & others, 2017; Ozturk, Li, & Tergaonkar, 2017; Zhou & others, 2018). divide.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 523


FIGURE 4
MITOCHONDRIA. This color-coded illustration
of a typical cell shows mitochondria in green.
The illustration also includes the nucleus (pink)
with its DNA (brown). In what ways might
changes in mitochondria be involved in aging?
©J. Bavosi/Science Source
free-radical theory A microbiological theory
of aging that states that people age because
normal metabolic processes within their cells
produce unstable oxygen molecules known
as free radicals. These molecules ricochet
around inside cells, damaging DNA and other
cellular structures.
mitochondrial theory The theory that aging is
caused by the decay of mitochondria, tiny
cellular bodies that supply energy for
function, growth, and repair.
sirtuins A family of proteins that have been
proposed as having important influences on
longevity, mitochondria functioning in energy,
calorie restriction benefits, stress resistance,
and cardiovascular functioning.
mTOR pathway A cellular pathway involving
the regulation of growth and metabolism that
has been proposed as a key aspect of
longevity
hormonal stress theory The theory that aging
in the body’s hormonal system can decrease
resistance to stress and increase the
likelihood of disease.
524 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
Free-Radical Theory A second microbiological theory of aging is free-radical theory,
which states that people age because when cells metabolize energy, the by-products include
unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals. The free radicals ricochet around the cells,
damaging DNA and other cellular structures (Guillaumet-Adkins & others, 2017; Jabeen &
others, 2018; Jeremic & others, 2018). The damage can lead to a range of disorders, including
cancer and arthritis (Hegedus & others, 2018; Phull & others, 2018; Saha & others, 2017).
Overeating is linked with an increase in free radicals, and researchers recently have found that
calorie restriction—a diet restricted in calories but adequate in proteins, vitamins, and miner-
als—reduces the oxidative damage created by free radicals (Kalsi, 2015). In addition to diet,
researchers also are exploring the role that exercise might play in reducing oxidative damage
in cells (Robinson & others, 2017). A study of obese men found that endurance exercise
reduced their oxidative damage (Samjoo & others, 2013).
Mitochondrial Theory There is increasing interest in the role that mitochondria—tiny bodies
within cells that supply essential energy for function, growth, and repair—might play in aging
(Hamilton & Miller, 2017; Mora, Bueno, & Rojas, 2017; Zole & Ranka, 2018) (see Figure 4).
Mitochondrial theory states that aging is due to the decay of mitochondria. Mitochondrial theory
views emphasizes that this decay is primarily caused by oxidative damage and loss of critical
micronutrients supplied by the cell (Kim, Triolo, & Hood, 2017; Kim & others, 2017).
Defects in mitochondria are linked with cardiovascular disease (Anupama, Sindhu, &
Raghu, 2018), neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (Birnbaum & others,
2018) and Parkinson disease (Larsen, Hanss, & Kruger, 2018), diabetic kidney disease (Forbes
& Thorburn, 2018), and impaired liver functioning (Borrelli & others, 2018). Mitochondria
likely play important roles in neuronal plasticity (Srivastava & others, 2018). However, it is
not known whether the defects in mitochondria cause aging or are merely accompaniments of
the aging process (Brand, 2011).
Sirtuin Theory Sirtuins are a family of proteins that have been linked to longevity, regula-
tion of mitochondria functioning in energy, possible benefits of calorie restriction, stress resis-
tance, and lower rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer (Ansari & others, 2017; Blank &
Grummt, 2017; Ong & Ramasamy, 2018; Sarikhani & others, 2018; Wood & others, 2018).
Later in the chapter, we will discuss one of the sirtuins, SIRT 1, that has been connected to
DNA repair and aging.
mTOR Pathway Theory The mTOR pathway is a cellular pathway that involves the regula-
tion of growth and metabolism. TOR stands for “target of rapamycin,” and in mammals it is
called mTOR. Rapamycin is a naturally derived antibiotic and immune system suppressant/
modulator that was discovered in the 1960s on Easter Island. It has been commonly used and
is FDA approved for preventing rejection of transplanted organs and bone marrow (Shen &
others, 2017). Recently, proposals have been made that the mTOR pathway has a central role
in the life of cells, acting as a cellular router for growth, protein production/metabolism, and
stem cell functioning (Houssaini & others, 2018; Kraig & others, 2018; Lim & others, 2017;
Zhang & others, 2017). Some scientists also argue that the pathway is linked to longevity, the
successful outcomes of calorie restriction, and reducing cognitive decline, and that it plays a role
in a number of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer disease (Maid
& Power, 2018; Tramutola, Lanzillotta, & Di Domenico, 2017; Van Skike & others, 2018; Wang
& others, 2017). The rapamycin drug has not been approved as an anti-aging drug and has some
serious side effects, including increased risk of infection and lymphoma, a deadly cancer.
Some critics argue that scientific support has not been found for the role of sirtuins and
the mTOR pathway in the aging process in humans and that research has not adequately docu-
mented the use of drugs such as rapamycin to slow the aging process or extend the human
life span (Ehninger, Neff, & Xie, 2014).
Hormonal Stress Theory Cellular clock, free-radical, mitochondrial, sirtuin, and
mTOR pathway theories attempt to explain aging at genetic and cellular levels. In contrast,
hormonal stress theory argues that aging in the body’s hormonal system can lower resistance
to stress and increase the likelihood of disease (Finch & Seeman, 1999).
When faced with external challenges such as stressful situations, the human body adapts
by altering internal physiological processes (Kim, Jee, & Pikhart, 2018; Steptoe & others,
2017). This process of adaptation and adjustment is referred to as allostasis. Allostasis is
adaptive in the short term; however, continuous accommodation of physiological systems in
response to stressors may result in allostatic load, a wearing down of body systems due to
constant activity (Edes & Crews, 2017; Goldstein & Kopin, 2018).
Normally, when people experience stressors, the body responds by releasing certain hor-
mones. As people age, the hormones stimulated by stress remain at elevated levels longer than
they did when people were younger (Gekle, 2017). These prolonged, elevated levels of stress-related
hormones are associated with increased risks for many diseases, including cardiovascular disease,
cancer, diabetes, and hypertension (Burleson, 2017; Castagne & others, 2018; Steptoe & others,
2017). Researchers are exploring stress-buffering strategies, including exercise, in an effort to find
ways to attenuate some of the negative effects of stress on the aging process (Erickson & Oberlin,
2017; Gomes & others, 2017; Kim, Jee, & Pikhart, 2018; Niraula, Sheridan, & Godbout, 2017).
Recently, a variation of hormonal stress theory has emphasized the role of a decline in
immune system functioning with aging (Fulop & others, 2019; Garschall & Flatt, 2018;
Jasiulionis, 2018; Masters & others, 2017; Picard & McEwen, 2018). In a recent study, the
percentage of T cells (a type of white blood cell essential for immunity) decreased in older
adults in their seventies, eighties, and nineties (Song & others, 2018). Aging contributes to
immune system deficits that give rise to infectious diseases in older adults (Le Page & others,
2018). The extended duration of stress and diminished restorative processes in older adults
may accelerate the effects of aging on immunity.

Conclusions Which of these biological theories best explains aging? That question has
yet to be answered. It likely will turn out that more than one—or perhaps all—of these biological
processes contribute to aging. In a recent analysis, it was concluded that aging is a very com-
plex process involving multiple degenerative factors, including interacting cell- and organ-level
communications (de Magalhaes & Tacutu, 2016). Although there are some individual aging
triggers such as telomere shortening, a full understanding of biological aging encompasses
multiple processes operating at different biological levels.

Review Connect Reflect Review research or theories you read about

• What is the difference between life
span and life expectancy? What
LG1 Characterize longevity
characterizes centenarians? What sex
and discuss the biological
differences exist in longevity?
theories of aging.
• How can the differences between the
young-old and oldest-old be
summarized?
• What are the five main biological
theories of aging?
Connect
• Go back to Figure 1 and see if you can
link any of the items listed with
in this section or in earlier chapters
(for example, item 2 states “If you are
married, add four years,” and earlier
we read that “Individuals who are
happily married live longer, healthier
lives than either divorced individuals
or those who are unhappily married”).
Reflect Your Own Personal
Journey of Life
• To what age do you think you will live?
Why? To what age would you like to
live?

2 The Course of Physical Describe

LG2  how a person’s brain and body
change in late adulthood.
Development in Late Adulthood

Physical Appearance Sensory The Circulatory and Sexuality

The Aging Sleep
and Movement Development Respiratory Systems
Brain

The physical decline that accompanies aging usually occurs slowly, and sometimes lost function
can even be restored. We’ll examine the main physical changes behind the losses of late adult-
hood and describe ways that older adults can age successfully.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 525


developmental connection
Brain Development
Substantial growth in the prefrontal
cortex occurs throughout infancy,
childhood, and adolescence.
Connect to “Physical Development in
Infancy”; “Physical and Cognitive
Development in Early Childhood”;
“Physical and Cognitive Development
in Middle and Late Childhood”; and
“Physical and Cognitive Development
in Adolescence.”
526 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
THE AGING BRAIN
How does the brain change during late adulthood? Does it retain plasticity?
The Shrinking, Slowing Brain On average, the brain loses 5 to 10 percent of its weight
between the ages of 20 and 90. Brain volume also decreases (Liu & others, 2017; Peng & others,
2016). One study found a decrease in total brain volume and volume in key brain structures such
as the frontal lobes and hippocampus from 22 to 88 years of age (Sherwood & others, 2011).
Another study found that the volume of the brain was 15 percent less in older adults than in younger
adults (Shan & others, 2005). Recent analyses concluded that in healthy aging the decrease in
brain volume is due mainly to shrinkage of neurons, lower numbers of synapses, reduced length
and complexity of axons, and reduced tree-like branching in dendrites, but only to a minor extent
attributable to neuron loss (Penazzi, Bakota, & Brandt, 2016; Skaper & others, 2017). Of course,
neuron loss occurs in individuals with disorders such as Alzheimer disease (Moore & Murphy,
2016; Poulakis & others, 2018). Further, in a recent study, global brain volume predicted mortality
in a large population of stroke-free community-dwelling adults (Van Elderen & others, 2016).
Some areas of the brain shrink more than others (Peng & others, 2016). The prefrontal
cortex is one area that shrinks the most with aging, and recent research has linked this shrink-
age with decreased working memory and slower motor behavior in older adults (Hoyer, 2015).
The sensory regions of the brain—such as the primary visual cortex, primary motor cortex, and
somatosensory cortex—are less vulnerable to the aging process (Rodrique & Kennedy, 2011).
A general slowing of function in the brain and spinal cord begins in middle adulthood
and accelerates in late adulthood (Salthouse, 2017; Yang, Bender, & Raz, 2015). Both physical
coordination and intellectual performance are affected. For example, after age 70 many adults
no longer show a knee jerk reflex, and by age 90 most reflexes are much slower (Spence, 1989).
The slowing of the brain can impair the performance of older adults on intelligence tests and
various cognitive tasks, especially those that are timed (Lu & others, 2011). For example, a
neuroimaging study revealed that older adults were more likely to be characterized by slower
processing in the prefrontal cortex during retrieval of information on a cognitive task than
were younger adults (Rypma, Eldreth, & Rebbechi, 2007).
Historically, as in the research just discussed, much of the focus on links between brain
functioning and aging has been on volume of brain structures and regions. Today, increased
emphasis is being given to changes in myelination and neural networks (Anthony & Lin, 2018;
Grady, 2017; Habeck & others, 2018; Madden & Parks, 2017). Recent research indicates that
demyelination (a deterioration in the myelin sheath that encases the axons and is associated
with information processing) of the brain occurs with aging in older adults (Callaghan & others,
2014; Cercignani & others, 2017; Rodrique & Kennedy, 2011).
Aging has also been linked to reduced synaptic functioning and decreased production of
some neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA) (Kamal & others, 2017). Reductions in acetylcholine have been linked to small
declines in memory functioning and to the severe memory loss associated with Alzheimer
disease, which will be further discussed in the chapter on “Cognitive Development in Late
Adulthood” (Lewis, van Schalkwyk, & Bloch, 2017). Normal age-related reductions in dopa-
mine may cause problems in planning and carrying out motor activities (Juhasz & others,
2017). Severe reductions in the production of dopamine have been linked with age-related
diseases characterized by a loss of motor control, such as Parkinson disease (da Silva & others,
2018). GABA helps to control the preciseness of the signal sent from one neuron to another,
decreasing “noise,” and its production decreases with aging (Rozycka & Liguz-Lecznar, 2017).
The Adapting Brain The story of the aging brain is far from being limited to loss and
decline in functioning. The aging brain also has remarkable adaptive capabilities (Erickson &
Oberlin, 2017; Garaschuk, Semchyshyn, & Lushchak, 2018; Ishi & others, 2018; Kinugawa,
2019). Even in late adulthood, the brain loses only a portion of its ability to function, and the
activities older adults engage in can influence the brain’s development (Borsa & others, 2018;
Lovden, Backman, & Lindenberger, 2017; Reuter-Lorenz & Lustig, 2017). For example, in one
fMRI study, higher levels of aerobic fitness were linked with greater volume in the hippocam-
pus, which translates into better memory (Erickson & others, 2009). Also, a recent study found
that a higher level of aerobic fitness embedded in a health promotion program for older adults
was associated with higher cortical and hippocampal volumes (Carlson & others, 2015).
 Three topics reflect the adaptiveness of the human brain in older adults: (1) the possibility
that the brain might be able to generate new neurons, (2) the role of dendritic growth, and
(3) the adaptive potential of delateralization.
Can the brains of adults, even aging adults, generate new neurons? Researchers have
found that neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, does occur in lower mammalian
species, such as mice (Adlof & others, 2017; O’Leary & others, 2018). Also, research indi-
cates that exercise and an enriched, complex environment can generate new brain cells in
rats and mice, and that stress reduces the survival rate of these new cells (Abbink & others,
2017; O’Leary & others, 2018; Park & others, 2018; Ruitenberg & others, 2017; Zhang &
others, 2018) (see Figure 5). For example, in a recent study, mice in an enriched environ-
ment learned more flexibly because of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (Garthe, Roeder, &
Kempermann, 2016). An earlier study revealed that coping with stress stimulated hippocam-
pal neurogenesis in adult monkeys (Lyons & others, 2010). Researchers also have discovered
that if rats are cognitively challenged to learn something, new brain cells survive longer Exercise
(Shors, 2009).
It also is now accepted that neurogenesis can occur in human adults (Horgusluoglu &
others, 2017; Shohayeb & others, 2018; Su, Dhananjaya, & Tarn, 2018). However, researchers
have documented neurogenesis in only two brain regions: the hippocampus (Bowers &
Jessberger, 2016; Olesen & others, 2017), which is involved in memory, and the olfactory
bulb (Bonzano & De Marchis, 2017), which is involved in smell. It also is not known what
functions these new brain cells perform, and at this point researchers have documented that
they last for only several weeks (Nelson, 2006). Researchers currently are studying factors
that might inhibit or promote neurogenesis, including various drugs, stress, and exercise (Liu
& Nusslock, 2018; Tharmaratnam & others, 2017; Zhou & others, 2017). They also are
examining how the grafting of neural stem cells to various regions of the brain, such as the
hippocampus, might increase neurogenesis (Akers & others, 2018; Zhang & others, 2017).
Research attention also is being directed to the possible role neurogenesis might play in
slowing the impairment caused by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease,
Parkinson disease, and Huntington disease (Ma & others, 2017; Shohayeb & others, 2018; Enriched Environment
Zheng & others, 2017).
Dendritic growth can occur in human adults, possibly even in older adults (Eliasieh, Liets, FIGURE 5
& Chalupa, 2007). Recall that dendrites are the receiving portion of the neuron. One study GENERATING NEW NERVE CELLS IN
compared the brains of adults at various ages (Coleman, 1986). From the forties through the ADULT MICE. Researchers have found that
exercise (running) and an enriched
seventies, the growth of dendrites increased. However, among people in their nineties dendritic
environment (a larger cage and many toys)
growth no longer occurred. This dendritic growth might compensate for the possible loss of can cause brain cells in adult mice to divide
neurons through the seventies but not during the nineties. Lack of dendritic growth in older and form new brain cells (Kempermann, van
adults could be due to a lack of environmental stimulation and activity. Further research is Praag, & Gage, 2000). Cells were labeled with
needed to clarify precisely how dendrites change during aging. a chemical marker that becomes integrated
Changes in lateralization may provide one type of adaptation in aging adults (Hong & into the DNA of dividing cells (red). Four
others, 2015). Recall that lateralization is the specialization of function in one hemisphere of weeks later, they were also labeled to mark
neurons (nerve cells). As shown here, both
the brain or the other. Using neuroimaging techniques, researchers found that brain activity
the running mice and the mice in an enriched
in the prefrontal cortex is lateralized less in older adults than in younger adults when they are environment had many cells that were still
engaging in cognitive tasks (Cabeza, 2002; Cabeza & Dennis, 2013; Park & Farrell, 2016; dividing (red) and others that had
Sugiura, 2016). For example, Figure 6 shows that when younger adults are given the task of differentiated into new nerve cells (orange).
Courtesy of Dr. Fred Gage, The Salk Institute for Biological
recognizing words they have previously seen, they process the information primarily in the
Studies
right hemisphere; in contrast, older adults are more likely to use both hemispheres (Madden
& others, 1999). The decrease in lateralization in older adults likely plays a compensatory role
in the aging brain. That is, using both hemispheres may improve the cognitive functioning of
older adults. developmental connection
Of course, there are individual differences in how the brain changes in older adults Brain Development
(Nyberg, Pudas, & Lundquist, 2017; Wang, X., & others, 2018). Consider highly successful At the peak of neurogenesis in prena-
business executive 85-year-old T. Boone Pickens, who continued to lead a very active lifestyle, tal development, it is estimated that
regularly exercising and engaging in cognitively complex work. Pickens underwent an fMRI in as many as 200,000 neurons are be-
cognitive neuroscientist Denise Park’s laboratory, during which he was presented with various ing generated every minute. Connect
cognitive tasks. Instead of both hemispheres being active, his left hemisphere was dominant, to “Prenatal Development and Birth.”
just as is the case for most younger adults (Helman, 2008). On tough questions—such as “Are
‘zombies’ and ‘unicorns’ living or nonliving?”—Pickens was relying mainly on the left hemi-
sphere of his brain to make a decision. Indeed, as the cognitive tasks became more complex, neurogenesis The generation of new
Pickens was more likely to use the left hemisphere of his brain. neurons.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 527


developmental connection
Language
Speech and grammar are highly later-
alized functions, strongly depending
on activity in the left hemisphere.
Connect to “Physical Development in
Infancy.”
FIGURE 6
THE DECREASE IN BRAIN
LATERALIZATION IN OLDER ADULTS.
Younger adults primarily used the right
prefrontal region of the brain (top left image)
during a recall memory task, whereas older
adults used both the left and right prefrontal
regions (bottom two images).
Courtesy of Dr. Roberto Cabeza
528 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
Does staying intellectually challenged affect one’s quality of life and longevity? To read
further about aging and the brain, see Connecting Through Research.
SLEEP
Fifty percent or more of older adults complain of having difficulty sleeping, which can have
detrimental effects on their lives (Farajinia & others, 2014). In a recent analysis of sleep patterns
from 20 to 90 years of age, total sleep decreased about 8 minutes per decade for males and
about 10 minutes per decade for females as they got older (Dorffner, Vitr, & Anderer, 2015).
Also in this study, as individuals aged, they engaged in more light sleep and less deep sleep.
Researchers also have found that older adults’ sleep is more easily disrupted than that of younger
adults (it takes longer for older adults to fall asleep initially, they wake up more often during
the night, and they have greater difficulty going back to sleep) (McRae & others, 2016). Further,
the significant reduction in deep sleep in older adults is more likely to occur in men than women
(Redline & others, 2004). And in a recent study, when older adults slept 6 hours per day or
less they were more likely to have fair or poor health (Lauderdale & others, 2016).
Sleep factors are linked to many aspects of older adults’ lives (Bao & others, 2017;
Brewster, Riegel, & Gehrman, 2018; Dean & others, 2017; Hamasaki & others, 2017; Li,
Vitiello, & Gooneratne, 2018). A recent research review concluded that female gender,
depressed mood, and physical illness were the most consistently identified risks for future sleep
problems in older adults (Smagula & others, 2016).
Poor sleep is a risk factor for falls, obesity, a lower level of cognitive functioning, and
earlier death (Miner & Kryger, 2017; Onen & Onen, 2018). Research reviews indicate that
improving older adults’ sleep through behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments may enhance
their cognitive skills (Dzierzewski, Dautovich, & Ravyts, 2018; Pace-Schott & Spencer, 2011).
Further, one study revealed poor quality of sleep in individuals with mild cognitive impairment,
which in some cases is a precursor for Alzheimer disease (Hita-Yanez, Atienza, & Cantero,
2013). In another study, sleep duration of more than seven hours per night in older adults was
linked to longer telomere length, which was similar to the telomere length of middle-aged adults
(Cribbet & others, 2014). Also, in one recent study, insomnia was associated with shorter
telomere length in 70- to 88-year-olds but not in adults younger than 70 years old (Carroll &
others, 2016). And a recent study revealed that even just one night of partial sleep deprivation
activated DNA damage characteristic of biological aging (Carroll & others, 2015).
However, excessively long sleep duration also is often an indicator of less effective physical
and cognitive functioning (Lo & others, 2016; Tsapanou & others, 2017). In a recent study, long
sleep duration predicted an increase in all-cause mortality in individuals 65 years and older
(Beydoun & others, 2017). Recent research indicated that when older adults slept 10 hours a
day or more, they were more likely to have cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Han & others,
2016; Yang & others, 2016). And in a recent study, older adults who slept 9 hours or more a
day had lower cognitive functioning (Malek-Ahmadi & others, 2016). Also, a recent Korean study
revealed that sleeping 9 hours or longer per day was linked to a higher incidence of sarcopenia
(Kwon & others, 2017). In general, it now appears that when older adults sleep less than 7 hours
or more than 9 hours a night, their cognitive functioning is harmed (Lo & others, 2016).
Many of the sleep problems of older adults are associated with health problems (Kang,
Lee, & Lim, 2017; Kato & others, 2017; Onen & Onen, 2018). Strategies to help older adults
sleep better at night include avoiding caffeine, avoiding over-the-counter sleep remedies, staying
physically active during the day, staying mentally active, and limiting naps (Hsiao & others,
2018; Morin, Savard, & Ouellet, 2013). In addition, one study of older adults indicated that
walking at or above the internationally recommended level of 150 minutes per week predicted
a lower likelihood of sleep onset or sleep maintenance problems four years later (Hartescu,
Morgan, & Stevinson, 2016). And a recent Chinese study revealed that older adults who
engaged in a higher level of overall physical activity, leisure-time exercise, and household activ-
ity were less likely to have sleep problems (Li & others, 2018).
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND MOVEMENT
In late adulthood, the changes in physical appearance that began occurring during middle age
become more pronounced. Wrinkles and age spots are the most noticeable changes.
 connecting through research
Does Engaging in Intellectually Challenging Activities Affect Quality of Life and Longevity?
The Nun Study, directed by David
Snowdon, is an intriguing ongoing
investigation of aging in 678 nuns,
many of whom live in a convent in
Mankato, Minnesota (Keohane & Balfe,
2017; Latimer & others, 2017; Neltner &
others, 2016; Pakhomov & Hemmy,
2014; Snowdon, 2003; Tyas & others,
2007; White & others, 2016). Each of
the 678 nuns agreed to participate in
annual assessments of her cognitive
and physical functioning. They also
agreed to donate their brains for scien-
tific research when they die, and they
are the largest group of brain donors (a) (b)
in the world. Examination of the nuns’
donated brains, as well as brains (a) Sister Marcella Zachman (left) finally stopped teaching at age 97. Now, at 99, she helps ailing nuns
exercise their brains by quizzing them on vocabulary or playing a card game called Skip-Bo, at which
donated by others, has led neuroscien-
she deliberately loses. Sister Mary Esther Boor (right), also 99 years of age, is a former teacher who
tists to believe that the brain has a stays alert by doing puzzles and volunteering to work the front desk. (b) A technician holds the brain
remarkable capacity to change and of a deceased Mankato nun. The nuns donate their brains for research that explores the effects of
grow, even in old age. The Sisters of stimulation on brain growth.
©James Balog
Notre Dame in Mankato lead intellec-
tually challenging lives, and brain researchers believe this contributes to • Sisters who had taught for most of their lives showed more mod-
their quality of life as older adults and possibly increases their longevity. erate declines in intellectual skills than those who had spent most
Findings from the Nun Study so far include the following: of their lives doing service-based tasks, which supports the notion
• Higher levels of idea density, a measure of linguistic ability that stimulating the brain with intellectual activity keeps neurons
assessed through autobiographies written in early adulthood (at healthy and alive (Snowdon, 2002).
age 22), were linked with higher brain weight, fewer incidences of This study and other research provides hope that scientists will
mild cognitive impairment, and fewer characteristics of Alzheimer discover ways to tap into the brain’s capacity to adapt in order to prevent
disease in 75- to 95-year-old nuns (Riley & others, 2005). and treat brain diseases (Alexopoulos & Kelly, 2017; Liu & others, 2017;
• Positive emotions early in adulthood were linked to longevity Wang, X., & others, 2018). For example, scientists might learn more effec-
(Danner, Snowdon, & Friesen, 2001). Handwritten autobiographies tive ways to improve older adults’ cognitive functioning, reduce Alzheimer
from 180 nuns, composed when they were 22 years of age, were disease, and help older adults recover from strokes (DeSimone & others,
scored for emotional content. The nuns whose early writings had 2017; Gmiat & others, 2018; Methgal & others, 2018; Sperling, 2017).
higher scores for positive emotional content were more likely to Even when areas of the brain are permanently damaged by stroke, new
still be alive at 75 to 95 years of age than their counterparts whose message routes can be created to get around the blockage or to resume
early writings were characterized by negative emotional content. the function of that area, indicating that the brain does adapt.

We also become shorter as we get older. Both men and women become shorter in late developmental connection
adulthood because of bone loss in their vertebrae (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009).
Biological Processes
Our weight usually drops after we reach 60 years of age. This likely occurs because of
muscle loss, which also gives our bodies a “sagging” look (Evans, 2010). Figure 7 shows the On average, men lose 1 to 2 inches in
declining percentage of muscle and bone from age 25 to age 75, and the corresponding increase height from 30 to 70 years of age and
in the percentage of fat. One study found that long-term aerobic exercise was linked with women can lose as much as 2 inches in
greater muscle strength in 65- to 86-year-olds (Crane, Macneil, & Tarnopolsky, 2013). In height from age 25 to 75. Connect to
another study, at-risk overweight and obese older adults lost significant weight and improved “Physical and Cognitive Development
their mobility considerably by participating in a community-based weight reduction program in Middle Adulthood.”
(Rejeski & others, 2017).

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 529

 Percentage of total weight Older adults move more slowly than young adults, and this
slowing occurs for movements with a wide range of difficulty
Age 25 Age 75
(Davis & others, 2013) (see Figure 8). Adequate mobility is an
15% important aspect of maintaining an independent and active life-
30%
40% 37% style in late adulthood (Danilovich & others, 2018; Gray-Miceli,
2017). Recent research indicates that obesity contributes to
20% 8% 40% mobility limitations in older adults (Anson & others, 2017;
10%
JafariNasabian & others, 2017). The good news is that regular
walking decreases the onset of physical disability and reduces
functional limitations in older adults (Mullen & others, 2012).
Muscle Fat Bone Other
For example, a recent study of older adults found that walking
FIGURE 7 a dog regularly was associated with better physical health (Curl,
CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION OF BONE, MUSCLE, AND FAT Bibbo, & Johnson, 2017). Exercise also benefitted frail elderly
FROM 25 TO 75 YEARS OF AGE. Notice the decrease in bone and muscle adults in another study (Danilovich, Conroy, & Hornby, 2018).
and the increase in fat from 25 to 75 years of age. In this study, high-intensity walking training reduced the older
adults’ frailty, increased their walking speed, and improved their
balance. And in another recent study, a 10-week exercise program improved the physical capa-
bilities (aerobic endurance, agility, and mobility) and cognitive function (selective attention
and planning) of elderly nursing home residents (Pereira & others, 2018).
1,300
The risk of falling in older adults increases with age and is greater for women than for
men (Francis-Coad & others, 2017; Gouveia & others, 2017). Falls are the leading cause of
Movement time (ms)

Older adults
injury deaths among adults who are 65 years and older (National Center for Health Statistics,
2018). Each year, approximately 200,000 adults over the age of 65 (many of them women)
800 fracture a hip in a fall. Half of these older adults die within 12 months, frequently from
pneumonia.
A recent meta-analysis found that exercise reduces falls in adults 60 years of age and older
Young adults (Stubbs, Brefka, & Denkinger, 2015). And in one study, walking was more effective than bal-
300 ance training in reducing falls in older adults (Okubo & others, 2016).
2 3 4 5 6
Index of difficulty
SENSORY DEVELOPMENT
FIGURE 8
MOVEMENT AND AGING. Older adults take Seeing, hearing, and other aspects of sensory functioning are linked with our ability to perform
longer to move than young adults, and this everyday activities (Hochberg & others, 2012). This link was documented in a study of more
change occurs across a range of movement than 500 adults, 70 to 102 years of age, in which sensory acuity, especially visual capacity,
difficulty (Ketcham & Stelmach, 2001). was related to whether and how well older adults bathed and groomed themselves, completed
household chores, engaged in intellectual activities, and watched TV (Marsiske, Klumb, &
Baltes, 1997). How do vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and sensitivity to pain change in
late adulthood?

Vision Recently, researchers have found that visual decline in late adulthood is linked to
(a) cognitive decline (Monge & Madden, 2016; Roberts & Allen, 2016), and (b) having fewer
social contacts and engaging in less challenging social/leisure activities (Cimarolli & others,
2017). Also, with aging, visual acuity, color vision, and depth perception decline. Several dis-
eases of the eye may emerge in aging adults.
Visual Acuity In late adulthood, the decline in vision that began for most adults in early
or middle adulthood becomes more pronounced (Jensen & Tubaek, 2017). Visual processing
speed declines in older adults (Bezdicek & others, 2016). Night driving is especially difficult,
to some extent because of diminishing sensitivity to contrasts and reduced tolerance for glare
(Kimlin, Black, & Wood, 2017). Dark adaptation is slower—that is, older individuals take longer
to recover their vision when going from a well-lighted room to semidarkness. The area of the
visual field becomes smaller, a change suggesting that the intensity of a stimulus in the periph-
eral area of the visual field needs to be increased if the stimulus is to be seen. Events taking
place away from the center of the visual field might not be detected (West & others, 2010).
This visual decline often can be traced to a reduction in the quality or intensity of light
reaching the retina (Nag & Wadhwa, 2012). At 60 years of age, the retina receives only about
one-third as much light as it did at 20 years of age (Scialfa & Kline, 2007). In extreme old
age, these changes might be accompanied by degenerative changes in the retina, causing severe
difficulty in seeing. Large-print books and magnifiers might be needed in such cases.

530 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

 Recent research has shown that sensory decline in older adults is linked to a decline in
cognitive functioning (Wongrakpanich, Petchiorlian, & Rosenzweig, 2016). Also, one study of
individuals in their seventies revealed that visual decline was related to slower speed of processing
information, which in turn was associated with greater cognitive decline (Clay & others, 2009).
Color Vision Color vision also may decline with age in older adults as a result of the
yellowing of the lens of the eye (Scialfa & Kline, 2007). This decline is most likely to occur
in the green-blue-violet part of the color spectrum. As a result, older adults may have trouble
accurately distinguishing between objects of closely related colors, such as navy blue socks and
black socks.
Depth Perception As with many types of perception, depth perception changes little
after infancy until adults become older. Depth perception typically declines in late adulthood,
which can make it difficult for the older adult to determine how close or far away or how high
or low something is (Bian & Anderson, 2008). A decline in depth perception can make steps developmental connection
or street curbs difficult to manage.
Perception
Diseases of the Eye Three diseases that can impair the vision of older adults are cata- The visual cliff was used to determine
racts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration: whether infants have depth percep-
• Cataracts involve a thickening of the lens of the eye that causes vision to become cloudy, tion. Connect to “Physical Develop­
opaque, and distorted (Radhakrishnan & others, 2018). By age 70, approximately 30 per- ment in Infancy.”
cent of individuals experience a partial loss of vision due to cataracts. Initially, cataracts
can be treated by glasses; if they worsen, the cloudy lens should be surgically removed
and replaced with an artificial one (Jiang & others, 2018; Singh, Dohlman, & Sun, 2017).
A recent Japanese study found that older adults (mean age: 76 years) who had cataract
surgery were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than their counterparts who
had not had the surgery (Miyata & others, 2018). Also, diabetes is a risk factor for the
development of cataracts (Becker & others, 2018; Chua & others, 2017).
• Glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve because of the pressure created by a
buildup of fluid in the eye (Jiang & others, 2018; Koh & others, 2017). Approximately
1 percent of individuals in their seventies and 10 percent of those in their nineties have
glaucoma, which can be treated with eye drops. If left untreated, glaucoma can ulti-
mately destroy a person’s vision.
• Macular degeneration involves deterioration of the macula of the retina, which corre-
sponds to the focal center of the visual field. Individuals with macular degeneration
may have relatively normal peripheral vision but be unable to see clearly what is right
in front of them (Owsley & others, 2016) (see Figure 9). This condition affects 1 in 25
individuals from 66 to 74 years of age and 1 in 6 of those 75 years old and older. One
study revealed that cigarette smoking contributes to macular degeneration (Schmidt &
others, 2006). If the disease is detected early, it can be treated with laser surgery
(Hernandez-Zimbron & others, 2018). However, macular degeneration is difficult to
FIGURE 9
MACULAR DEGENERATION. This
treat and thus is a leading cause of blindness in older adults. Also, there is increased
simulation of the effect of macular
interest in using stem-cell-based therapy for macular degeneration (Apatoff & others, degeneration shows how individuals with this
2018; Bakondi & others, 2017; Mandai, Kurimoto, & Takahashi 2017). eye disease can see their peripheral field of
vision but can’t clearly see what is in their
central visual field.
Hearing For hearing as for vision, the age of older adults is important in determining the ©Cordelia Molloy/Science Source
degree of decline (Hoffman & others, 2017; Wingfield & Lash, 2016) (see Figure 10). The
decline in vision and hearing is much greater in individuals 75 years and older than in indi-
viduals 65 to 74 years of age (Charness & Bosman, 1992).
Hearing impairment usually does not become much of an impediment until late adulthood cataracts A thickening of the lens of the eye
(Johnson, Xu, & Cox, 2017). Only 19 percent of individuals from 45 to 54 years of age experi- that causes vision to become cloudy, opaque,
and distorted.
ence some type of hearing problem (Harris, 1975). By contrast, a national survey revealed that
63 percent of adults 70 years and older had a hearing loss defined as an inability to hear glaucoma Damage to the optic nerve because
sounds at frequencies higher than 25 dB with their better ear (Lin & others, 2011). In this of the pressure created by a buildup of fluid in
study, hearing aids were used by 40 percent of those with moderate hearing loss. Also, a recent the eye.
study of 80- to 106-year-olds found a substantial increase in hearing loss in the ninth and then macular degeneration A disease that involves
in the tenth decades of life (Wattamwar & others, 2017). deterioration of the macula of the retina, which
Older adults often don’t recognize that they have a hearing problem, deny that they have corresponds to the focal center of the visual
one, or accept it as a part of growing old. Also, a study that spanned 10 years also found that field.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 531

 Perceptual
System 65 to 74 years 75 years and older

Vision There is a loss of acuity even with corrective lenses. Less There is a significant loss of visual acuity and color discrimination,
transmission of light occurs through the retina (half as much as and a decrease in the size of the perceived visual field. In late old
in young adults). Greater susceptibility to glare occurs. Color age, people are at significant risk for visual dysfunction from
discrimination ability decreases. cataracts and glaucoma.

Hearing There is a significant loss of hearing at high frequencies and There is a significant loss at high and middle frequencies. A
some loss at middle frequencies. These losses can be helped hearing aid is more likely to be needed than in young-old age.
by a hearing aid. There is greater susceptibility to masking of
what is heard by noise.

FIGURE 10
VISION AND HEARING DECLINE IN LATE ADULTHOOD

poor nutrition and a lifetime of smoking were linked to more rapid onset of hearing difficulties
in older adults (Heine & others, 2013).
Hearing loss in older adults is linked to declines in activities of daily living, cognitive
functioning, and language, as indicated by the results of the following research. Recent research
has found that older adults’ hearing problems are linked to impaired activities of daily living
(Gopinath & others, 2012), less time spent out of home and in leisure activities (Mikkola &
others, 2016), increased falls (Gopinath & others, 2016; Jiam, Li, & Agrawal, 2016), reduced
cognitive functioning (Golub, 2017), and loneliness (Mick & others, 2018). Also, in a recent
study, older adults’ hearing aid use was associated with less loneliness (Weinstein, Sirow, &
Moser, 2016).
What outcomes occur when older adults have dual sensory loss in vision and hearing? In
a recent study of 65- to 85-year-olds, dual sensory loss in vision and hearing was linked to
reduced social participation and less social support, as well as increased loneliness (Mick &
others, 2018). In another recent study, this type of dual sensory loss in older adults (mean age
of 82 years) involved greater functional limitations, increased loneliness, cognitive decline, and
communication problems (Davidson & Gutherie, 2018). And in another recent study, older
adults who had a dual sensory impairment involving vision and hearing had more depressive
symptoms (Han & others, 2018).

Smell and Taste Most older adults lose some of their sense of taste or smell, or both
(Correia & others, 2016). A recent national study of community-dwelling older adults revealed
that 74 percent had impaired taste and 22 percent had impaired smell (Correia & others,
2016). These losses often begin around 60 years of age (Hawkes, 2006). A majority of individu-
als age 80 and older experience a significant reduction in smell (Lafreniere & Mann, 2009).
Researchers have found that older adults show a greater decline in their sense of smell than
in their sense of taste (Schiffman, 2007). Smell and taste decline less in healthy older adults
than in their less healthy counterparts. A recent study found that a poorer sense of smell in
older adults was associated with increased feelings of depression and loneliness (Sivam &
others, 2016).

Touch and Pain Changes in touch and pain sensitivity are also associated with aging
(Arneric & others, 2014). A recent national study of community-dwelling older adults revealed
that 70 percent of older adults had impaired touch (Correia & others, 2016). One study found
that with aging, individuals could detect touch less in the lower extremities (ankles, knees, and
so on) than in the upper extremities (wrists, shoulders, and so on) (Corso, 1977). For most
older adults, a decline in touch sensitivity is not problematic (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009). And
one study revealed that older adults who are blind retain a high level of touch sensitivity, which
likely is linked to their use of active touch in their daily lives (Legge & others, 2008).
An estimated 60 to 75 percent of older adults report at least some persistent pain (Molton
& Terrill, 2014). The most frequent pain complaints of older adults are back pain (40 percent),
peripheral neuropathic pain (35 percent), and chronic joint pain (15 to 25 percent) (Denard &
others, 2010). The presence of pain increases with age in older adults, and women are more
likely to report having pain than are men (Tsang & others, 2008). In a recent research review,
it was concluded that older adults have lower pain sensitivity but only for lower pain intensities

532 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

(Lautenbacher & others, 2017). Older adults also are less sensitive to pain than are younger
adults (Harkins, Price, & Martinelli, 1986). Although decreased sensitivity to pain can help older
adults cope with disease and injury, it can also mask injuries and illnesses that need to be treated.

Perceptual Motor Coupling Perception and action are coupled throughout the life
span. Driving a car illustrates the coupling of perceptual and motor skills. The decline in
perceptual-motor skills in late adulthood makes driving a car difficult for many older adults
(Lodha & others, 2016; Pozzi & others, 2018). Drivers over the age of 65 are involved in more
traffic accidents than middle-aged adults because of mistakes such as improper turns, not yield-
ing the right of way, and not obeying traffic signs; their younger counterparts are more likely
to have accidents because they are speeding (Lavalliere & others, 2011; Sterns, Barrett, &
Alexander, 1985). Older adults can compensate for declines in perceptual-motor skills by driv-
ing shorter distances, choosing less congested routes, and driving only in daylight.
An extensive research review evaluated the effectiveness of two types of interventions in
improving older adults’ driving: cognitive training and exercise (Ross, Schmidt, & Ball, 2013):
• Cognitive training. Cognitive training programs have shown some success in older adults,
including improving their driving safety and making driving less difficult. In one study con-
ducted by Karlene Ball and her colleagues (2010), training designed to enhance speed of pro-
cessing produced more than a 40 percent reduction in at-fault crashes over a six-year period.
• Education. Results are mixed with regard to educational interventions that seek to
improve older adults’ driving ability and to reduce their involvement in traffic accidents
(Gaines & others, 2011).
developmental connection
Sexuality
THE CIRCULATORY AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS
Older adults may express their sexual-
Cardiovascular disorders increase in late adulthood (Lind & others, 2018). In older adults, ity differently from younger adults,
64 percent of men and 69 percent of women 65 to 74 years of age have hypertension (high ­focusing on touching and caressing in
blood pressure) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018a). More than 70 percent their sexual relationship when sexual
of older adults who have a heart attack or stroke have preexisting hypertension. intercourse becomes difficult. Connect
Today, most experts on aging recommend that consistent blood pressures above 120/80 to “Socioemotional Development in
should be treated to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease (Krakoff, 2008). Late Adulthood.”
A rise in blood pressure with age can be linked to illness, obesity, stiffening of blood vessels,
stress, or lack of exercise (Cheng & others, 2017). The longer any of these factors persist, the
higher the individual’s blood pressure gets.
Various drugs, a healthy diet, and exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
in many older adults (Georgiopoulou & others, 2017; Kantoch & others, 2018). In a recent
study of older adults, a faster exercise walking pace, not smoking, modest alcohol intake, and
avoiding obesity were associated with a lower risk of heart failure (Del Gobbo & others, 2015).
Another study revealed that diminished exercise capacity and lack of walking were the best
predictors of earlier death in older adults with heart problems (Reibis & others, 2010). And
in a recent study of adults 65 and older, a Mediterranean diet lowered their risk of cardiovas-
cular problems (Nowson & others, 2018).
In the respiratory system, lung capacity drops 40 percent between the ages of 20 and 80,
even when disease is not present (Fozard, 1992). Lungs lose elasticity, the chest shrinks, and
the diaphragm weakens (Lalley, 2013). The good news, though, is that older adults can improve
lung functioning with diaphragm-strengthening exercises. Severe impairments in lung function-
ing and death can result from smoking (Wilhelmsen & others, 2011).

SEXUALITY
In the absence of two circumstances—disease and the belief that old people are or should be
asexual—sexuality can be lifelong (Corona & others, 2013). Aging, however, does induce some
changes in human sexual performance, more so in males than in females (Estill & others, 2017).
Orgasm becomes less frequent in males with age, occurring in every second to third
attempt rather than every time. More direct stimulation usually is needed to produce an erec-
What are some characteristics of sexuality in
tion. From 65 to 80 years of age, approximately one out of four men have serious problems
older adults? How does sexuality change as
getting and/or keeping erections, and after 80 years of age the percentage rises to one out of men and women go through late adulthood?
two men (Butler & Lewis, 2002). However, with recent advances in erectile dysfunction ©Image Source/Getty Images

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 533

 100 medications such as Viagra, an increasing number of older men, especially
the young-old, are able to have an erection (Bennett, 2018; Constantinescu
Percentage of older adults who reported sexual
activity with a partner in the previous 12 months
90 Men
& others, 2017; Gesser-Edelsburg & Hijazi, 2018; Ozcan & others, 2017).
Women
80 Also, recent research suggests that declining levels of serum testosterone,
which is linked to erectile dysfunction, can be treated with testosterone
70 replacement therapy to improve sexual functioning in males (Gray, McHale,
60 & Carre, 2017; Hackett & Kirby, 2018; Hackett & others, 2017; Jones & Kelly,
2018; Kaya & others, 2017; Mayo Clinic, 2018). However, the benefit-risk
50 ratio of testosterone replacement therapy is uncertain for older males (Isidori
40
& others, 2014).
A considerable portion of older adults remain sexually active (Thomas,
30 Hess, & Thurston, 2015). An interview study of more than 3,000 adults 57
to 85 years of age revealed that many older adults are sexually active as long
20
as they are healthy (Lindau & others, 2007). Sexual activity did decline
10 through the later years of life: 73 percent of people 57 to 64 years old,
53 percent of people 65 to 74 years old, and 26 percent of adults 75 to 85
0
years old reported that they were sexually active. Even in the sexually active
57–64 65–74 75–85 oldest group (75 to 85), more than 50 percent said they still have sex at least
Age group two to three times a month. Fifty-eight percent of sexually active 65- to
FIGURE 11 74-year-olds and 31 percent of 75- to 85-year-olds said they engage in oral sex.
SEXUAL ACTIVITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH A PARTNER
As with middle-aged and younger adults, older adults who did not have a
partner were far less likely to be sexually active than those who had a partner.
For older adults with a partner who reported not having sex, the main reason
was poor health, especially the male partner’s physical health. Also, older adults are increas-
ingly using online dating websites. A recent study of 4,000 dating profiles online found that
older adults were more likely to use first-person plural pronouns (we, our), not be self-enhancing,
focus more on connectedness and relationships with others, describe positive emotions, and
use words associated with health than were younger adults when seeking a romantic partnership
(Davis & Fingerman, 2016).
A large-scale study of individuals from 57 to 85 years of age revealed that sexual activity,
a good-quality sexual life, and interest in sex were positively related to health in middle and
late adulthood (Lindau & Gavrilova, 2010). Also in this study, these aspects of sexuality were
higher for aging males than aging women, and this gap widened with age. Further, sexually
active life expectancy was longer for men than women, but men lost more years of sexually
active life due to poor health than women did.
As indicated in Figure 11, sexual activity with a partner declined from the last part of
middle adulthood through late adulthood, with a lower rate of sexual activity with a partner
for women than men. Indeed, a challenge for a sexually interested older woman is finding a
partner. At 70 years of age, approximately 70 percent of women don’t have a partner compared
with only about 35 percent of men. Many older women’s husbands have died, and many older
men are in relationships with younger women.

Review Connect Reflect Review Connect

• How much plasticity and adaptability
LG2 Describe how a person’s does the aging brain have?
• What characterizes older adults’ sleep?
brain and body change in
• What changes in physical appearance
late adulthood.
and movement characterize late
adulthood?
• How do vision, hearing, smell and
taste, touch, and sensitivity to pain
change in older adults?
• How do the circulatory and respiratory
systems change in older adults?
• What is the nature of sexuality in late
adulthood?
• Many of the declines in the
functioning of individuals in late
adulthood start occurring in middle
adulthood. Which declines in
functioning occur mainly in late
adulthood?
Reflect Your Own Personal
Journey of Life
• If you could interview the Mankato
nuns, what questions would you want
to ask them to help you improve your
understanding of successful aging?

534 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

 3 Health LG3 Identify health problems in older adults and describe how they can be treated.

Health Problems Substance Use and Abuse Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight Health Treatment

How healthy are older adults? What types of health problems 100
do they have, and what can be done to maintain or improve their
One or more chronic conditions
health and ability to function in everyday life?
Two or more chronic conditions
80
HEALTH PROBLEMS

Percent of population
As we age, we become more susceptible to disease or illness 60
(Baker & Petersen, 2018; Benetos & others, 2019; Hou & others,
2018; Skulachev & Skulachev, 2017). The majority of adults who
are still alive at 80 years of age or older are likely to have some 40
type of impairment. Chronic diseases (those with a slow onset
and a long duration) are rare in early adulthood, increase in
middle adulthood, and become more common in late adulthood
20
(Hirsch & Sirois, 2016). As indicated in Figure 12, 84 percent
of U.S. adults 65 years of age and older have one or more
chronic conditions, and 62 percent have two or more chronic
conditions (Partnership for Solutions, 2002). 0
As shown in Figure 13, arthritis is the most common 0–19 20–44 45–64 65+
chronic disorder in late adulthood, followed by hypertension. Age
Older women have a higher incidence of arthritis and hyperten- FIGURE 12
sion and are more likely to have visual problems, but are less
PERCENT OF U.S. POPULATION WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS ACROSS
likely to have hearing problems, than older men are. AGE GROUPS
Although adults over the age of 65 often have a physical
impairment, many of them can still carry on their everyday activi-
ties or work. Chronic conditions associated with the greatest limitations on work are heart
conditions (52 percent), diabetes (34 percent), asthma (27 percent), and arthritis (27 percent). How many of us older persons
Conflict in relationships has been linked with greater decline in older adults with diabetes or have really been prepared for
hypertension (Seeman & Chen, 2002). Low income is also strongly related to health problems
in late adulthood (Ferraro, 2006). Approximately three times as many poor as non-poor older the second half of life, for old
adults report that their activities are limited by chronic disorders. Recent studies document links age, and eternity?
between low socioeconomic status and health problems (Boylan, Cundiff, & Matthews, 2018;
—Carl Jung
Caplan, Washington, & Swanner, 2017). One study revealed that frailty increased for low-income
Swiss Psychoanalyst, 20th Century
older adults, regardless of their ethnicity (Szanton & others, 2010).

Causes of Death in Older Adults Nearly 60 percent of deaths among U.S. adults
65 to 74 years are caused by cancer or cardiovascular disease. Cancer recently replaced car-
diovascular disease as the leading cause of death in U.S. middle-aged adults. The decline in
cardiovascular disease in middle-aged adults has been attributed to improved drugs, decreased
rates of smoking, improved diets, and increased exercise (Georgiopoulou & others, 2017;
Kantoch & others, 2018; Nowson & others, 2018). The same realignment of causes of death
recently occurred in 65- to 74-year-olds, with cancer now the leading cause of death in this age
group (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018c). However, in the 75-to-84 and
85-and-over age groups, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2018c). As individuals age through the late adult years, the
older they are the more likely they are to die of cardiovascular disease rather than cancer.
Ethnicity is linked with the death rates of older adults (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2018c). Among ethnic groups in the United States, African Americans have high
death rates for stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and female breast cancer. Asian Americans
and Latinos have low death rates for these diseases. In the last decade, death rates for most
diseases in African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans have decreased. However, death
rates for most diseases remain high for African Americans (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2018c).

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 535

 Diabetes
Arthritis Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints accompanied by pain,
Ages 45 to 64
stiffness, and movement problems. Arthritis is especially common in older
adults (Koyanagi & others, 2018). This disorder can affect hips, knees,
Ages 65+ ankles, fingers, and vertebrae. Individuals with arthritis often experience pain
Arteriosclerosis and stiffness, as well as problems in moving about and performing routine
daily activities. There is no known cure for arthritis. However, the symptoms
of arthritis can be reduced by drugs such as aspirin, range-of-motion exercises
Orthopedic impairments of the back, extremities, etc. for the afflicted joints, weight reduction, and in extreme cases, replacement
of the crippled joint with a prosthesis (Daien & others, 2017; Zhao, Mysler
& Moots, 2018). Recent research has documented the benefits of exercise in
older adults with arthritis (AbouAssi & others, 2017; Allen & others, 2018).
Visual impairments
A recent study of women found that leisure-time physical inactivity increased
Chronic health conditions

the risk for subsequent development of arthritis (Di Giuseppe & others,
2015). In this study, women with the highest levels of leisure-time activity
Chronic sinus problems were the least likely to develop arthritis. Also, a high-intensity, 16-week
strength-training program significantly increased the strength and reduced the
pain of arthritis patients (Flint-Wagner & others, 2009).
Heart conditions
Osteoporosis Normal aging brings some loss of bone tissue, but in
some instances loss of bone tissue can become severe (Fougere & Cesari,
2019; JafariNasabian & others, 2017). Osteoporosis involves an extensive loss
Hearing impairments
of bone tissue. Osteoporosis is the main reason many older adults walk with
a marked stoop. Women are especially vulnerable to osteoporosis, which is
the leading cause of broken bones in women (Ballane & others, 2017;
Hypertension Madrasi & others, 2018). Approximately 80 percent of osteoporosis cases in
the United States occur in females, and almost two-thirds of all women over
the age of 60 are affected by osteoporosis. It is more common in non-Latina
Arthritis White, thin, and small-framed women.
Osteoporosis is related to deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, and estro-
gen, and to lack of exercise (Kemmler, Engelke, & von Stengel, 2016). To
prevent osteoporosis, young and middle-aged women should eat foods rich
0 10 20 30 40 50 in calcium (such as dairy products, broccoli, turnip greens, and kale), exer-
Percentage of age range afflicted cise regularly, and avoid smoking (Garcia-Gomariz & others, 2018;
Giangregorio & El-Kotob, 2017; Kemmler, Kohl, & von Stengel, 2017;
FIGURE 13 Varahra & others, 2018). Drugs such as Fosamax can be used to reduce the
THE MOST PREVALENT CHRONIC CONDITIONS IN
risk of osteoporosis (Black & Rosen, 2016; Tu & others, 2018). Aging women
MIDDLE AND LATE ADULTHOOD
should also get bone density checks.

Accidents Unintended injuries are the eighth leading cause of death among older adults
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018c). Injuries resulting from a fall at home or
a traffic accident in which an older adult is a driver or an older pedestrian is hit by a vehicle
are common. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among adults who are 65 years and
older (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018c). Each year, approximately 200,000
adults over the age of 65 (most of them women) fracture a hip in a fall. Half of these older
adults die within 12 months, frequently from pneumonia. Two-thirds of older adults who experi-
ence a fall are likely to fall again in the next six months.

SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE

In many cases, older adults are taking multiple medications, which can increase the risks asso-
arthritis Inflammation of the joints ciated with consuming alcohol or other drugs. For example, when combined with tranquilizers
accompanied by pain, stiffness, and or sedatives, alcohol use can impair breathing, produce excessive sedation, and be fatal. Opti-
movement problems; this disease is mization of drug use, especially not overdosing, is a key factor in successful aging (Marien &
especially common in older adults. Spinewine, 2019).
How extensive is substance abuse in older adults? A national survey found that in 2010
osteoporosis A chronic condition that
involves an extensive loss of bone tissue and the percentage of individuals who engaged in binge drinking (defined as four or more drinks
is the main reason many older adults walk for women and five or more drinks for men on one occasion in the past 30 days) declined
with a marked stoop. considerably in middle and late adulthood (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012)

536 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

(see Figure 14). However, the frequency of binge drinking in the past 30 Osteoporosis
days was highest among older adults (5.5 episodes).
Despite the decline in the percentage of individuals who engage
in binge drinking in late adulthood, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (2003) has identified substance abuse
among older adults as an “invisible epidemic” in the United States.
The belief is that substance abuse often goes undetected in older
adults, and there is concern about older adults who abuse not only
illicit drugs but prescription drugs as well (Bien & Bien-Barkowska,
2018; DiBartolo & Jarosinki, 2017; Loscalzo & others, 2017; Petrovic
& others, 2019). Too often, screening questionnaires are not appro-
priate for older adults, and the consequences of alcohol abuse—such
as depression, inadequate nutrition, congestive heart failure, and fre-
quent falls—may erroneously be attributed to other medical or psy-
chological conditions (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009). Because of the
dramatic increase in the number of older adults anticipated over the
twenty-first century, substance abuse is likely to characterize an
increasing number of older adults. What characterizes osteoporosis? What factors contribute to
Late-onset alcoholism is the label used to describe the onset of alco- osteoporosis?
holism after the age of 65. Late-onset alcoholism is often related to Drinks Per
loneliness, loss of a spouse, or a disabling condition. Age Group Percent Occasion Frequency
Researchers have found a protective effect of moderate alcohol use
in older adults (O’Keefe & others, 2014). One study revealed better 18–24 28 9 4.2
25–34 28 8 4.2
physical and mental health, and increased longevity in older adults who 35–44 19 8 4.1
drank moderately compared with those who drank heavily or did not 45–64 13 7 4.7
drink at all (Rozzini, Ranhoff, & Trabucchi, 2007). Benefits of moderate 65 & over 4 5 5.5
drinking include better physical well-being and mental performance,
greater openness to social contacts, and ability to assert mastery over FIGURE 14
one’s life. A recent study of older adults found that moderate alcohol BINGE DRINKING THROUGH THE LIFE SPAN. Note: Percent refers
consumption was linked to greater volume in the brain’s hippocampus to percent of individuals in a particular age group who engaged in
(Downer & others, 2015). Another recent study revealed that moderate binge drinking on an occasion in the past 30 days (4 or more drinks for
women, 5 or more for men). Drinks per occasion reflects the intensity
drinkers were more likely to be alive and not have a cognitive impair-
of the binge drinking. Frequency indicates the number of occasions in
ment at 85 years of age (Richards & others, 2018). Another study in which binge drinking occurred in the past 30 days.
aging adults indicated that moderate wine consumption was associated Source: After data presented by the Centers for Disease Control and
with lower inflammatory risk factors related to cardiovascular disease Prevention, 2012, Table 1.
across an 8-year period (Janssen & others, 2014).
Researchers have especially found that moderate drinking of red wine is linked to better
health and increased longevity (Giacosa & others, 2016; Li, Li, & Lin, 2018; Liberale & others,
2017). Explanations of the benefits of red wine center on its role in lowering stress and reduc-
ing the risk of heart disease (Bitterman & Chung, 2015; Chen & others, 2017). Evidence is
increasing that a chemical in the skin of red wine grapes—resveratrol—plays a key role in red
wine’s health benefits (Giacosa & others, 2016; Li, Li, & Lin, 2018). One study found that red
wine, but not white, killed several lines of cancer cells (Wallenborg & others, 2009). Scientists
are exploring how resveratrol, as well as calorie restriction, increases SIRT 1, an enzyme that
is involved in DNA repair and aging (Giacosa & others, 2016; Granchi & Minutolo, 2018;
Liberale & others, 2017). Some critics argue that there is inconsistent evidence that resveratrol
and SIRT 1 are linked to longevity (Tang & others, 2014).

EXERCISE, NUTRITION, AND WEIGHT

Can exercise slow the aging process? Can eating a nutritious but calorie-reduced diet increase
longevity? Let’s examine how exercise, nutrition, and weight control might influence how
healthily we age.

Exercise Although we may be in the evening of our lives in late adulthood, we are not
meant to live out our remaining years passively. Everything we know about older adults sug-
What might explain the finding that drinking
gests that the more active they are, the healthier and happier they are likely to be (Cho, Post,
red wine in moderation is linked to better
& Kim, 2018; Erickson & Oberlin, 2017; Gill & others, 2016; Henderson & others, 2018; health and increased longevity?
Strandberg, 2019). ©LightFieldStudios/Getty Images

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 537


developmental connection
Health
Being physically fit and cognitively
fit are key aspects of successful
aging. Connect to “Socioemotional
­ physically fit occurred for both men and women in this study. Further, one study revealed that
Development in Late Adulthood.”
FIGURE 15
THE JOGGING HOG EXPERIMENT.
Jogging hogs reveal the dramatic effects of
exercise on health. In one investigation, a
group of hogs was trained to run
approximately 100 miles per week (Bloor &
White, 1983). Then the researchers narrowed
the arteries that supplied blood to the hogs’
hearts. The hearts of the jogging hogs
developed extensive alternate pathways for
blood supply, and 42 percent of the
threatened heart tissue was salvaged,
compared with only 17 percent in a control
group of non-jogging hogs.
Courtesy of Maxine Bloor
538 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
In one study, exercise literally made the difference between life and death for middle-aged
and older adults. More than 10,000 men and women were divided into categories of low fit-
ness, medium fitness, and high fitness (Blair & others, 1989). Then they were studied over a
period of eight years. Sedentary participants (low fitness) were more than twice as likely to
die during the eight-year time span of the study than those who were moderately fit and more
than three times as likely to die as those who were highly fit. The positive effects of being
60-year-old and older adults who were in the lowest fifth in terms of physical fitness as deter-
mined by a treadmill test were four times more likely to die over a 12-year period than their
counterparts who were in the top fifth of physical fitness (Sui & others, 2007). A longitudinal
study found that men who exercised regularly at 72 years of age had a 30 percent higher prob-
ability of still being alive at 90 years of age than their sedentary counterparts (Yates & others,
2008). And a study of more than 11,000 women found that low cardiorespiratory fitness was
a significant predictor of death (Farrell & others, 2010). Also, a study of joggers in Copenhagen,
Denmark, revealed that engaging in light or moderate jogging on a regular basis was linked to
increased longevity (Schnohr & others, 2015). Further, in a recent study, relative to individuals
with low physical fitness, those who increased from low to intermediate or high fitness were
at a lower risk for all-cause mortality (Brawner & others, 2017).
Setting exercise goals and then carrying out an exercise plan are important not only in
young adults but older adults as well. For example, a study of elderly women revealed that
those who had set exercise-related personal goals were four times more likely to report high
exercise activity eight years later (Saajanaho & others, 2014).
Gerontologists increasingly recommend strength training in addition to aerobic activity and
stretching for older adults (Falck & others, 2017; Grgic & others, 2018). The average person’s
lean body mass declines with age—about 6.6 pounds of lean muscle are lost each decade during
the adult years. The rate of loss accelerates after age 45. Resistance exercises can preserve and
possibly increase muscle mass in older adults (Grgic & others, 2018; Nordheim & others, 2017).
A recent study of older adults found that resistance training improved their physical function,
psychological well-being, and quality of life (Pedersen & others, 2017).
Exercise is an excellent way to maintain health and live longer (Brawner & others, 2017;
Erickson & Oberlin, 2017; Strandberg, 2019). The current recommendations for older adults’
physical activity are 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (brisk walk-
ing, for example) per week and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018b). In the recent recommendations, even
greater benefits can be attained with 5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.
Researchers continue to document the positive effects of exercise in older adults (Erickson
& Oberlin, 2017; Frith & Lopinzi, 2018; Moreira & others, 2018; Strandberg, 2019). Exercise
helps people to live independent lives with dignity in late adulthood (Henderson & others,
2018; Strasser & others, 2018). At 80, 90, and even 100 years of age, exercise can help prevent
older adults from falling down or even being institutionalized (Hill & others, 2018). Being
physically fit means being able to do the things you want to do, whether you are young or old.
More about research on exercise’s positive benefits for health is shown in Figure 15.
Researchers who study exercise and aging have made the following discoveries:
• Exercise is linked to increased longevity. A study of older adults found that total daily
physical activity was linked to increased longevity across a four-year period (Buchman
& others, 2012). In a longitudinal study of Chinese women, those who exercised regu-
larly were less likely to die over a period of approximately six years (Matthews & oth-
ers, 2007). Also, in one analysis, energy expenditure by older adults during exercise that
burns up at least 1,000 calories a week was estimated to increase life expectancy by
about 30 percent, while burning up 2,000 calories a week in exercise was estimated to
increase life expectancy by about 50 percent (Lee & Skerrett, 2001).
• Exercise is related to prevention of common chronic diseases. Exercise can reduce the risk
of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and breast
cancer (Endes & others, 2016; Mora & Valencia, 2018). For example, a study of older
adults found that a higher lifetime physical activity level reduced age-related decline in
cardiovascular and respiratory functions (Bailey & others, 2013).
• Exercise is associated with improvement in the treatment of many diseases. When exercise
is used as part of the treatment, individuals with these diseases show improvement in
 symptoms: arthritis, pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery dis-
ease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer disease (Preston, Reynolds,
& Pearson, 2018; Scott & others, 2018).
• Exercise improves older adults’ cellular functioning. Researchers increasingly are finding
that exercise improves cellular functioning in older adults (Broskey & others, 2017). For
example, researchers recently have discovered that aerobic exercise is linked to greater
telomere length in older adults (Denham, O’Brien, & Charchar, 2016). And one study
found that aerobic exercise increased proteins related to mitochondrial functioning in
older adults (Konopka & others, 2014).
• Exercise improves immune system functioning in older adults (Lancaster & Febbraio,
2016; Minuzzi & others, 2018). One study revealed that following exercise, a number of
components of immune system functioning in older adult women improved (Sakamoto
& others, 2009).
• Exercise can optimize body composition and reduce the decline in motor skills as aging
occurs. Exercise can increase muscle mass and bone mass, improve balance and reduce
falls, as well as decrease bone fragility (Cho & others, 2018; Sgro & others, 2018). One
study found that participation in exercise activities was linked to a delay in the onset
and progression of frailty (Peterson & others, 2009). Also, a recent study found that
yoga-based exercise improved the balance and mobility of older adults (Youkhana &
others, 2016). And a recent study found that an exercise program reduced the number
of falls in older adults with dementia (Burton & others, 2015).
• Exercise reduces the likelihood that older adults will develop mental health problems and can
be effective in the treatment of mental health problems. For example, a recent research
review concluded that exercise reduces depressive symptoms in older adults (Seo & Chao,
2018). A recent study found that older adults who engaged in regular physical activity
­following a heart attack were less depressed than their counterparts who were more sed-
entary (Ernstsen & others, 2016). In another recent study, assisted living residents were
less depressed after participating in a 4-week intervention involving Wii Fit exergames
than were residents who had received a health education program (Chao & others, 2015).
• Exercise can reduce the negative effects of stress in older adults (Tada, 2018). One study
revealed that older adults with a high level of stress who engaged in aerobic exercise
had a lower cortisol level than their high-stress counterparts who did not engage in
­aerobic exercise (Heaney, Carroll, & Phillips, 2014).
• Exercise is linked to improved brain, cognitive, and affective functioning in older adults.
Older adults who exercise regularly not only show better brain functioning but also
­process information more effectively than older adults who are more sedentary (Coetsee
& Terblanche, 2018; Erickson & Oberlin, 2017; Smith, Hendy, & Tempest, 2018). In a
recent research review on brain functioning, more physically fit and active older adults
had superior memory functioning and a higher level of executive function than their
sedentary counterparts (Erickson, Hillman, & Kramer, 2015).
Despite the extensive documentation of exercise’s power to improve older adults’ health
and quality of life, a national survey in 2014 found that 65- to 74-year-olds exercised less than
25- to 64-year-olds and that the older adults continued to decrease their exercise at 75 years
and older (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Nonetheless, older adults have
increased the amount of time they exercise in recent years—in 2006 slightly more than
20 percent of 65- to 74-year-olds reported engaging in regular exercise but in 2014 that figure had
increased to more than 40 percent (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008, 2015).
Possible explanations of older adults’ reduction in exercise compared with middle-aged
adults focus on such factors as chronic illnesses, life crises (such as a spouse’s death) that Johnny Kelley finishing one of the many
disrupt exercise schedules, embarrassment at being around others who are in better shape Boston Marathons he ran as an older adult. In
(especially if they haven’t exercised much earlier in life), and the “why bother?” factor (not 1991, he ran his sixtieth Boston Marathon, and
in 2000 he was named “Runner of the
believing that exercise will improve their lives much). But as we have seen, it is never too late Century” by Runner’s World magazine. At
to begin exercising, and older adults can significantly benefit from regular exercise (Erickson 70 years of age, Kelley was still running
& Oberlin, 2017; Mora & Valencia, 2018). 50 miles a week. At that point in his life,
Kelley said, “I’m afraid to stop running. I feel
so good. I want to stay alive.” He lived 27
Nutrition and Weight Four aspects of nutrition are especially important in older adults: more years and died at age 97 in 2004.
(1) getting adequate nutrition, (2) avoiding overweight and obesity, (3) deciding whether to ©Charles Krupa/AP Images

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 539


What characterizes the current controversy
about longevity and being overweight?
©curtoicurto/Getty Images
540 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood
restrict calorie intake to improve health and extend life, and (4) determining whether to take
specific vitamin supplements to slow the aging process.
Healthy Nutrition Eating a healthy, balanced diet and taking appropriate vitamins are
important in helping older adults maintain their health (Diekmann & Bauer, 2019). One
change in eating behavior that can occur in older adults is a decrease in snacking between
meals, which contributes to harmful weight loss, especially in women. Among the strategies
for increasing weight gain in these women are the use of taste enhancers and calorie supple-
ments between meals.
Overweight and Obesity A recent national survey found that 37 percent of U.S. adults
60 years of age and older were obese in 2011–2014 (Flegal & others, 2016). This figure is lower
than the 40.2 percent for 40 to 59 years of age. In this recent survey, 34.9 percent of men and
38.8 percent of U.S. adults 60 years of age and older were obese. A large-scale study found a
substantial link between being overweight/obese and having a higher mortality risk (Masters &
others, 2013). However, some studies have reported that overweight adults live longer than normal-
weight adults or that being overweight is not a risk factor for earlier death, especially in older adults
(Chang & others, 2012). In a research meta-analysis, overweight was associated with lower all-cause
mortality but obesity was associated with higher all-cause mortality (Flegal & others, 2013).
A magazine article even mentioned that chubby might be the new healthy (Kolata, 2007).
It’s not clear why a few extra pounds that place someone in the overweight category might be
linked to longevity. Possibly for some older adults, such as those recovering from surgery or
those who develop pneumonia, the extra pounds may be protective. Some researchers argue
that research evidence revealing a link between being overweight and living longer is likely due
to inclusion of participants who have preexisting diseases (sometimes labeled “reverse causality”)
or sarcopenia (loss of lean body mass) (Greenberg, 2006).
Despite the several studies that have found a link between being overweight and living
longer, the majority of studies have revealed that being overweight is a risk factor for an earlier
death (Katzmarzyk & others, 2012; Masters & others, 2013; Rizzuto & Fratiglioni, 2014). For
example, in a recent large-scale study, obesity was associated with shorter longevity and
increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease compared with normal-weight individuals
(Khan & others, 2018). In another recent large-scale study, obesity, as well as high body mass
index (BMI) and waist circumference, were linked to earlier death (Batsis & others, 2017).
Also, another recent large-scale study indicated that earlier death characterized older adults
who were overweight, obese, or had a higher waist-to-hip ratio (Bowman & others, 2017). And
in yet another recent study, obese middle-aged and older adults were more likely to have
chronic diseases and experience an earlier death than their normal-weight counterparts
(Stenholm & others, 2017).
Obesity also is linked to the acceleration of diseases in many older adults (Gabbay, Slotki,
& Shavit, 2015; Khan & others, 2018; Rossi & others, 2017; Stenholm & others, 2017). However,
although the link between obesity and disease is present in older adults, the link is weaker
than it is for young and middle-aged adults (Kalish, 2016). Researchers also consistently find
that when individuals are overweight and fit, they have a much better health profile and greater
longevity than those who are overweight and not fit (Sardinha & others, 2016). Some leading
researchers now conclude that inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness are greater threats
to health and longevity than being overweight (McAuley & Blair, 2011).
Calorie Restriction Some studies have shown that calorie restriction in laboratory ani-
mals (such as rats and roundworms) can increase the animals’ longevity (Schreiber, O’Leary,
& Kennedy, 2016; Someya & others, 2017). Research indicates that calorie restriction slows
RNA decline during the aging process (Hou & others, 2016). And researchers have found that
chronic problems with the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and liver appear at a later age when
calories are restricted (Tanajak & others, 2017). In addition, some recent research indicates
that calorie restriction may provide neuroprotection for an aging central nervous system (White
& others, 2017). A recent study found that calorie restriction maintained more youthful func-
tioning in the hippocampus, which is an important brain structure for memory (Schafer &
others, 2015). Another study revealed that when older adults restricted their calorie intake for
three months, their verbal memory improved (Witte & others, 2009).
No one knows for certain how calorie restriction works to increase the life span of ani-
mals. Some scientists suggest that it might lower the level of free radicals and reduce oxidative
stress in cells (Tanajak & others, 2017). For example, one study found that calorie restriction
slowed the age-related increase in oxidative stress (Ward & others, 2005). Others argue that
calorie restriction might trigger stress and a state of emergency called “survival mode” in which
the body eliminates all unnecessary functions to focus only on staying alive (Schreiber, O’Leary,
& Kennedy, 2016). This survival mode likely is the result of evolution in which calorie restric-
tion allowed animals to survive periods of famine, and thus the genes remain in the genomes
of animal and human species today (Chen & Guarente, 2007).
However, a 25-year longitudinal study conducted by the National Institute of Aging casts
some doubt on whether a calorie-restricted diet will increase longevity (Mattison & others,
2012). In this study, monkeys who were fed 30 percent fewer calories did not live longer than
a control group of monkeys. The researchers concluded that genes and diet composition are
likely better predictors of longevity than calorie restriction per se.
The results in the National Institute of Aging study contrast with an ongoing study at the
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, which has reported a 30 percent improved
survival rate for calorie-restricted monkeys (Colman & others, 2009). Whether similar very-
low-calorie diets can stretch the human life span is not known (Picca, Pesce, & Lezza, 2017).
In some instances, the animals in these studies ate 40 percent less than normal. In humans,
a typical level of calorie restriction involves a 30 percent decrease, which translates to about
1,120 calories a day for the average woman and 1,540 for the average man.
Do underweight women and men live longer? One study revealed that women who were
20 pounds or more underweight lived longer even after controlling for smoking, hypertension,
alcohol intake, and other factors (Wandell, Carlsson, & Theobald, 2009). In this study, under-
weight men did not live longer when various factors were controlled.
The research findings on the effects of calorie restriction in humans are mixed (Locher
& others, 2014). Thus, an appropriate conclusion at this time is that further research is
needed to definitively determine whether calorie restriction increases longevity, especially
in humans.

The Controversy Over Vitamins and Aging For years, most experts on aging and
health argued that a balanced diet was all that was needed for successful aging; vitamin supple-
ments were not recommended. However, there have been some proposals that certain vitamin
supplements—mainly a group called “antioxidants,” which includes vitamin C, vitamin E, and
beta-carotene—might help to slow the aging process and improve the health of older adults
(Prasad, 2017; Xu & others, 2017).
The theory is that antioxidants counteract the cell damage caused by free radicals, which
are produced both by the body’s own metabolism and by environmental factors such as smok-
ing, pollution, and harmful chemicals in the diet (Jabeen & others, 2018; Jeremic & others,
2018; Tonnies & Trushina, 2017). When free radicals cause damage (oxidation) in one cell, a
chain reaction of damage follows. Antioxidants are theorized to act much like a fire extin-
guisher, helping to neutralize free-radical activity and reduce oxidative stress (Da Costa,
Badawi, & El-Sohemy, 2012).
What have research studies found about the role of antioxidants in health? In two recent
studies, no link was found between antioxidant vitamin intake and mortality (Henriquez-
Sanchez & others, 2016; Stepaniak & others, 2016). Additionally, recent research reviews have
not supported the belief that antioxidant vitamin supplements can reduce the incidence of
cancer and cardiovascular disease (Khodaeian & others, 2015; Paganini-Hill, Kawas, & Corrada,
2015). However, a meta-analysis of seven studies concluded that dietary intakes (not vitamin
supplements) of vitamin E, C, and beta-carotene were linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer
disease (Li, Shen, & Ji, 2012).
There still are many uncertainties about the role of antioxidant vitamins in health (Conti
& others, 2016; Otaegui-Arrazola & others, 2014). For example, it is unclear which vitamins
should be taken, how large a dose should be taken, what restrictions should be applied, and
so on. Critics also argue that the key experimental studies documenting the effectiveness of
vitamins in slowing the aging process have not been conducted. The studies in this area thus
far have been so-called population studies that are correlational rather than experimental in
nature. Other factors—such as exercise, better health practices, and good nutritional habits—
might be responsible for the positive findings about vitamins and aging rather than vitamins
per se. Also, the free-radical theory is a theory and not a fact, and it is only one of a number
of theories about why we age. ©Stockbyte

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 541

 connecting with careers
Sarah Kagan, Geriatric Nurse
Sarah Kagan is a professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing. She provides nursing consultation to patients, their
families, nurses, and physicians regarding the complex needs of older
adults related to their hospitalization. She also consults on research
and the management of patients who have head and neck cancers.
Kagan teaches in the undergraduate nursing program, where she
directs a course on “Nursing Care in the Older Adult.” In 2003, she was
awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her work in the field of nursing.
Kagan says her work has allowed her the privilege of being with patients
at the best and worst times of their lives. In the United States, older adults
comprise close to half of all hospital stays, a quarter of ambulatory visits,
and more than 70 percent of home health services. Many hospitals now
employ emergency room staff who specialize in geriatric health care, and
some offer separate geriatric emergency departments focused on treating
older adults and reducing repeat admissions. The number of elders in
developing countries is also expected to rise, from 400 million in 2000 to Sarah Kagan with a patient.
©Jacqueline Larma/AP Images
1.7 billion by 2050—making geriatric health care a global issue.

For more information about what geriatric nurses do, see the Careers in Life-Span Development appendix.

HEALTH TREATMENT
The increase in the aging population is predicted to dramatically escalate health-care costs over
the foreseeable future. As older adults live longer, disease management programs will need to
be expanded to handle the chronic disorders of older adults. The increasing demand for health
services among the expanding population of older adults is likely to bring shortages of many
types of health care professionals, including geriatric nurses, doctors, and health-care aides.
What is the quality of health treatment that older adults in the United States receive? A study
of older adults with health problems revealed that they receive the recommended medical care
they need only half the time (Wenger & others, 2003). The researchers examined the medical
records of 372 frail older adults who had been treated by two managed-care
60 organizations over the course of one year. Then they documented the medical
care each patient received and judged it using standard indicators of quality. For
50 example, many older adults with an unsteady gait didn’t get the help they
Percent in nursing homes

needed, such as physical therapy to improve their walking ability. Clearly, the
40 quality of health treatment provided to older adults needs to be significantly
improved.
30 Geriatric nurses can be especially helpful in treating the health-care
problems of older adults. To read about the work of one geriatric nurse, see
20 Connecting with Careers.
The development of alternative home and community-based care has
10 decreased the percentage of older adults who live in nursing homes (Walters
& others, 2017). Still, as older adults age, their probability of being in a nurs-
ing home increases (see Figure 16). The quality of nursing homes and other
0
65–69 70–74 80–84 85–89 90–94 95–99 100+
extended-care facilities for older adults varies enormously and is a source of
Age group
ongoing concern (Marshall & Hale, 2018; Wangmo, Nordstrom, & Kressig,
2017). More than one-third of these facilities are seriously deficient. They fail
FIGURE 16 federally mandated inspections because they do not meet the minimum stan-
PERCENTAGE OF U.S. OLDER ADULTS OF DIFFERENT AGES dards for physicians, pharmacists, and various rehabilitation specialists (occu-
IN NURSING HOMES pational and physical therapists). Further concerns focus on the patient’s

542 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

 connecting development to life
Health-Care Providers and Older Adults
The demand for home-care aides is predicted to increase dramatically in
the next several decades because of the likely doubling of the 65-and-older
population and older adults’ preference for remaining out of nursing homes
(Moos, 2007). The attitudes of both the health-care provider and the older
adult are important aspects of the older adult’s health care (Agrali & Akyar,
2014; Cagle & others, 2016; Clark, 2015). Unfortunately, health-care provid-
ers too often share society’s stereotypes and negative attitudes toward
older adults (Eymard & Douglas, 2012). In a health-care setting, these atti-
tudes can take the form of avoidance, dislike, and begrudged tolerance
rather than positive, hopeful treatment. Health-care personnel are more
likely to be interested in treating younger persons, who more often have
acute problems with a higher prognosis for successful recovery. They often
are less motivated to treat older persons, who are more likely to have
chronic problems with a lower prognosis for successful recovery.
Not only are physicians less responsive to older patients, but older
patients often take a less active role in medical encounters with health-
care personnel than do younger patients. Older adults should be encour-
aged to take a more active role in their own health care. Not only is it important to increase the number of health-care
professionals available to treat older adults, but it is also very
important that they show positive attitudes toward them.
©jonya/Getty Images

right to privacy, access to medical information, safety, and lifestyle freedom within the indi-
vidual’s range of mental and physical capabilities.
Because of the inadequate quality of many nursing homes and the escalating costs for
nursing home care, many specialists in the health problems of the aged stress that home health
40
care, elder-care centers, and preventive medicine clinics are good alternatives (Nordstrom &
Percentage of residents who
Wangmo, 2018). They are potentially less expensive than hospitals and nursing homes
(Rotenberg & others, 2018). They also are less likely to engender the feelings of depersonaliza- had died 18 months later 30
tion and dependency that occur so often in residents of institutions. Currently, there is an
increased demand for, but shortage of, home-care workers because of the increase in the popu-
20
lation of older adults and their preference to stay out of nursing homes (Franzosa, Tsui, &
Baron, 2018; Hewko & others, 2015).
In a classic study, Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer (1977) found that an important factor 10
related to health, and even survival, in a nursing home is the patient’s feelings of control and
self-determination. A group of elderly nursing home residents were encouraged to make more
day-to-day choices and thus feel they had more responsibility for control over their lives. They 0
began to decide such matters as what they ate, when their visitors could come, what movies Perceived Dependent
control
they saw, and who could come to their rooms. A similar group in the same nursing home was
told by the administrator how caring the nursing home was and how much the staff wanted
FIGURE 17
to help, but these residents were given no opportunity to take more control over their lives.
PERCEIVED CONTROL AND MORTALITY.
Eighteen months later, the residents who had been given responsibility and control were more In the study by Rodin and Langer (1977),
alert and active, and said they were happier, than the residents who were only encouraged to nursing home residents who were
feel that the staff would try to satisfy their needs. And the “responsible” or “self-control” group encouraged to feel more in control of their
had significantly better improvement in their health than did the “dependent” group. Even lives were more likely to be alive 18 months
more important was the finding that after 18 months only half as many nursing home residents later than those who were treated as being
in the “responsibility” group had died as in the “dependent” group (see Figure 17). Perceived more dependent on the nursing home staff.
Source: Rodin, J., & Langer, E. J. “Long term
control over one’s environment, then, can literally be a matter of life or death. effects of a control-relevant intervention with
Rodin’s research shows that simply giving nursing home residents options for control can the institutionalized aged.” Journal of
change their behavior and improve their health. To read further about health-care providers Personality and Social Psychology, 35, 1977,
and older adults, see Connecting Development to Life. 397–402.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 543

Review Connect Reflect Review in various aspects of their lives. At
• What are some common health what other age stages is giving
problems in older adults? What are the individuals more responsibility and
LG3 Identify health problems
main causes of death in older adults? control particularly important for their
in older adults and
• What characterizes substance abuse development?
describe how they can
be treated. in late adulthood?
• How do exercise, nutrition, and weight
Reflect Your Own Personal
influence development?
Journey of Life
• What changes in your lifestyle now
• What are some options and issues in
might help you age more successfully
the health treatment of older adults?
when you become an older adult?
Connect
• Older adults fare better when they are
given more responsibility and control

topical connections looking forward

In the next chapter, you will read about the benefits of engaging in challenging cognitive
activities and staying cognitively fit in late adulthood. Links between the development
of the brain and cognitive functioning will be examined. Aspects of work and retirement
issues also will be explored. Mental health problems, including the dramatic increase in
Alzheimer disease, will be discussed. And the roles of religion and spirituality in older
adults’ lives will be described.

reach your learning goals

Physical Development in Late Adulthood
1 Longevity LG1 Characterize longevity and discuss the biological
theories of aging.
Life Expectancy and
• Life expectancy refers to the number of years that will probably be lived by an average per-
Life Span son born in a particular year. Life span is the maximum number of years an individual can
live. Life expectancy has dramatically increased; life span has not.
• An increasing number of individuals live to be 100 or older. Genetics, health, and coping
well with stress can contribute to becoming a centenarian. On average, females live about six
years longer than males do. The sex difference is likely due to biological and social factors.

The Young-Old and • In terms of chronological age, the young-old have been described as being 65 to 84 years of
the Oldest-Old age and the oldest-old as 85 years and older. Many experts on aging prefer to describe the
young-old, old-old, and oldest-old in terms of functional age rather than chronological age.
This view accounts for the fact that some 85-year-olds are more biologically and psychologi-
cally fit than some 65-year-olds. However, those 85 and older face significant problems,
whereas those in their sixties and seventies are experiencing an increase in successful aging.
• The evolutionary theory of aging proposes that natural selection has not eliminated many
Biological Theories
of Aging harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults; thus, the benefits con-
ferred by evolution decline with age because natural selection is linked to reproductive fitness.
• One recent view is that aging is caused by a combination of cellular maintenance require-
ments and evolutionary constraints. Among the key genetic and cellular processes that have
been proposed to explain aging are those involving telomeres, free radicals, mitochondria, sir-
tuins, and the mTOR pathway. According to hormonal stress theory, aging in the body’s hor-
monal system can lower resilience and increase the likelihood of disease.

544 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood

 2 The Course of Physical LG2 Describe how a person’s brain and body change in late
Development in Late Adulthood adulthood.

The Aging Brain

• The brain loses weight and volume with age, and there is a general slowing of function in the
central nervous system that begins in middle adulthood and increases in late adulthood. How-
ever, researchers have recently found that older adults can generate new neurons, and at least
through the seventies, new dendrites.
• The aging brain retains considerable plasticity and adaptiveness. For example, it may compen-
sate for losses in some regions of the brain by shifting responsibilities to other regions. A
decrease in lateralization may reflect this kind of compensation, or it may reflect an age-
related decline in the specialization of function.

Sleep
• Approximately 50 percent of older adults complain of having difficulty sleeping. Poor sleep
can result in earlier death and lower cognitive functioning. Many sleep problems among older
adults are linked to health conditions.

Physical Appearance and

• The most obvious signs of aging are wrinkled skin and age spots on the skin. People get
Movement shorter as they age, and their weight often decreases after age 60 because of loss of muscle.
The movement of older adults slows across a wide range of movement tasks.
• Declines in visual acuity, color vision, and depth perception usually occur with age, especially
Sensory Development
after age 75. The yellowing of the eye’s lens with age reduces color differentiation. The ability
to see the periphery of a visual field also declines in older adults. Significant declines in
visual functioning related to glare characterize adults 75 years and older and are prevalent
among those 85 and older. Three diseases that can impair the vision of older adults are cata-
racts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
• Hearing decline can begin in middle age but usually does not become much of an impedi-
ment until late adulthood. Smell and taste can decline, although the decline is minimal in
healthy older adults.
• Changes in touch sensitivity are associated with aging, although this does not present a prob-
lem for most older adults. Sensitivity to pain decreases in late adulthood. As with infants and
children, perceptual motor coupling characterizes older adults; driving a vehicle is an exam-
ple of this coupling.
• Cardiovascular disorders increase in late adulthood. Consistent high blood pressure should be
The Circulatory and
Respiratory Systems treated to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. Lung capacity does
drop with age, but older adults can improve lung functioning with diaphragm-strengthening
exercises.

Sexuality
• Aging in late adulthood does include some changes in sexual performance, more so for males
than females. Nonetheless, there are no known age limits to sexual activity.

3 Health LG3 Identify health problems in older adults and describe

how they can be treated.
Health Problems • As we age, our probability of disease or illness increases. Chronic disorders are rare in early
adulthood, increase in middle adulthood, and become more common in late adulthood. The
most common chronic disorder in late adulthood is arthritis. Nearly three-fourths of older
adults die of cancer, heart disease, or stroke.
• Osteoporosis is the main reason many older adults walk with a stoop; women are especially
vulnerable to this condition. Accidents are usually more debilitating to older than to younger
adults.
• The percentage of older adults who engage in binge drinking declines compared with earlier
Substance Use
and Abuse in adulthood, but moderate drinking of red wine can bring health benefits. Abuse of illicit
and prescription drugs is a growing problem in the United States, although it is more difficult
to detect in older adults than in younger adults.

SECTION 9 Late Adulthood 545

 Exercise, Nutrition,
• The physical benefits of exercise have been demonstrated in older adults. Aerobic exercise
and Weight and weight lifting are both recommended for people who are physically capable of them. It is
important for older adults to eat healthy foods and take appropriate vitamins.
• Current controversy involves whether overweight adults live longer than normal-weight adults.
Being overweight is linked to health problems, and being obese predicts earlier death. Calorie
restriction in animals can increase the animals’ life span, but whether this works with
humans is not known. In humans, there has been recent controversy about whether being
overweight is associated with an increased or reduced mortality rate in older adults.
• Most nutritional experts recommend a well-balanced, low-fat diet for older adults but do not
recommend an extremely low-calorie diet. Controversy surrounds the question of whether
vitamin supplements—especially the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene—can
slow the aging process and improve older adults’ health. Recent research reviews concluded
that taking antioxidant vitamin supplements does not reduce the risk of cancer and
­cardiovascular disease.

Health Treatment
• Although only 3 percent of adults over 65 reside in nursing homes, 23 percent of adults 85
and over do. The quality of nursing homes varies enormously. Alternatives to nursing homes
are being proposed. Simply giving nursing home residents options for control can change
their behavior and improve their health. The attitudes of both the health-care provider and
the older adult patient are important aspects of the older adult’s health care. Too often
health-care personnel share society’s negative view of older adults.

key terms
arthritis free-radical theory life span neurogenesis
cataracts glaucoma macular degeneration osteoporosis
cellular clock theory hormonal stress theory mitochondrial theory sirtuins
evolutionary theory of aging life expectancy mTOR pathway

key people
Leonard Hayflick Ellen Langer Judith Rodin

546 CHAPTER 17 Physical Development in Late Adulthood