CHANGES IN LATE
ADULTHOOD
BY TANNU,DEEKSHA,PRIYA,PUSHPA,SANSKRITI
LATE ADULTHOOD
- Late adulthood generally begins at age
65 and beyond.
- Marked by physical, cognitive,
emotional, and social changes.
- Aging is a natural process influenced by
biological,psychological, and
environmental factors.
WHY IS ADULTHOOD
IMPORTANT?
Growing Older Population:
-The global aging population is increasing due to advancements in
healthcare.
-Life expectancy has risen significantly in recent decades.
Demographic Statistics:
By 2050, nearly 22% of the world's population will be over 60.
The proportion of the oldest-old (85+) is growing the fastest.
THEORIES OF
AGING
-Disengagement Theory: Older adults
naturally withdraw from society.
-Activity Theory: Staying active leads to
better aging outcomes.
-Continuity Theory: Maintaining past
habits and behaviors leads to more fulfilling
aging.
-Socioemotional Selectivity Theory:
Older adults prioritize meaningful
relationships and activities.
SOACIAL AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS
OF LATE ADULTHOOD
-Changes in social roles(retirement, becoming grandparents,
caregiving).
- Emotional well-being varies, some experience loneliness,
others find fulfillment.
- Support networks are crucial (family, friends, community
involvement).
- Mental health concerns: Depression and anxiety can occur
but are treatable.
- Successful aging: Staying engaged, maintaining purpose,
and adapting to changes.
SUCCESSFUL AGING
STRATEGIES
-Physical Activity: Regular exercise helps maintain
mobility and overall health.
-Healthy Diet: Nutrient-rich foods support aging
bodies.
-Mental Stimulation: Keep the brain active with
learning, puzzles, and socializing.
-Social Engagement: Staying connected to family,
friends, and community.
-Preventive Healthcare: Regular check-ups and
screenings for early disease detection.
CHALLENGES FACED IN
LATE ADULTHOOD
- Health issues and medical care costs.
-Age discrimination and loss of independence.
Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative
diseases.
- Financial stability and retirement concerns.
- Coping with the loss of loved ones.
PHYSCIAL CHANGES IN
LATE ADDULTHOOD
BRAIN AND
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Neural decline: The brain shrinks in volume and weight,
especially in the prefrontal cortex (which is responsible for planning
and decision-making).
Neuron loss: Neurons shrink, die off, and aren’t replaced at the
same rate. Some areas, like the hippocampus (memory), are more
affected.
Neurotransmitters decline: Dopamine and acetylcholine levels
drop, affecting movement, memory, and attention.
Cognitive impact: Slower processing speed, reduced reaction
time, but wisdom and accumulated knowledge can stay strong.
SLEEP
More fragmented sleep: Older adults spend
less time in deep sleep (slow-wave sleep) and
wake more often at night.
Earlier sleep/wake cycle: They tend to feel
sleepy earlier and wake up earlier.
Sleep problems: Increase in insomnia, sleep
apnea, and restless leg syndrome.
SENSORY CHANGES
Vision:
Reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and adaptation to darkness.
Common conditions: Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration.
Hearing:
Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), especially high-pitched sounds.
May lead to social withdrawal or miscommunication.
Taste and Smell:
Decreased sensitivity, affecting appetite and nutrition.
Touch and Pain:
Reduced sensitivity in extremities.
Chronic pain is common (e.g., arthritis, back pain).
PHYSCIAL APPEARANCE
AND MOBILITY
Skin: Thinner, wrinkled, age spots due to loss of elasticity and collagen.
Hair: Thins and turns gray due to pigment cell loss.
Height and Weight: Shrinking in height due to spinal compression;
muscle mass decreases.
Mobility: Reduced flexibility, slower movement, balance issues due to
joint stiffness and sarcopenia (muscle loss).
Fall Risk: Increases due to poorer coordination and balance.
CARDIOVASCUULAR AND
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Heart: Less efficient; may pump less blood per beat.
Blood pressure: Often increases (hypertension is
common).
Arteries: Harden and narrow with age (atherosclerosis).
Lungs: Vital capacity decreases; harder to draw deep
breaths.
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Weakened response: Greater risk of
infections, slower wound healing.
Inflammaging: Low-grade chronic
inflammation may increase the risk of
diseases like Alzheimer's and cardiovascular
problems.
DIGESTIVE AND
URINARY SYSTEM
Slower digestion: Can cause constipation or
discomfort.
Kidney function declines: Affects fluid balance
and medication processing.
Incontinence: More common, especially
among women.
SEXUAL
FUNCTIONING
Men: Reduced testosterone, slower erection
and ejaculation.
Women: Menopause leads to reduced
estrogen, vaginal dryness.
Continued interest: Sexual activity can persist
if health is maintained.
COGNITIVE
CHANGES
COGNITIVE
CHANGES
Cognitive changes refer to the alterations in
mental abilities such as memory, attention,
problem-solving, and processing speed that
occur as a person ages. In late adulthood,
some cognitive functions may decline, while
others, like accumulated knowledge and
vocabulary, often remain stable or improve.
MEMORY
•Declines: Episodic memory (memory of events)
tends to decline with age. Working memory
(short-term manipulation of information) may
also become less efficient.
•Stable: Semantic memory (general knowledge
and facts) is often preserved or even improves
slightly.
•Procedural memory (e.g., riding a bike) remains
largely intact.
ATTENTION
• Divided attention (focusing on multiple
things at once) and selective attention
(focusing while ignoring distractions) may
decline.
• Sustained attention (maintaining focus
over time) is usually stable.
LANGUAGE
• Vocabulary and verbal knowledge often
remain strong or improve.
• Word retrieval (e.g., finding the right
word during conversation) might become
more difficult, leading to more pauses or
tip-of-the-tongue experiences.
EXECUTIVE
FUNCTIONING
Older adults may experience
challenges in planning, problem-
solving, multitasking, and
inhibition of irrelevant
information.
DECISION - MAKING
AND WISDOM
• Older adults often rely more on
experience and intuition (crystallized
intelligence).
• May demonstrate greater wisdom,
emotional regulation, and
perspective-taking in decisions.
PROCESSING
SPEED
Generally slows down with
age, making it harder to
perform tasks that require
quick thinking or fast
responses.
DISORDERS
IN
LATE ADULTHOOD
NEUROCOGGNITIVE
DISORDERS
These affect memory, thinking, and reasoning:
• Alzheimer’s Disease:
Progressive brain disorder causing memory loss, confusion, and
personality changes.
• Vascular Dementia:
Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often after a stroke.
Symptoms include memory problems, confusion, and difficulty
concentrating.
• Parkinson’s Disease:
A movement disorder that can also include cognitive decline and
depression in later stages.
• Lewy Body Dementia:
Involves hallucinations, movement difficulties, and fluctuations in
alertness.
MOOD AND ANXIETY
DISORDERS
• Depression:
Common but often underdiagnosed in older adults. Symptoms
may include fatigue, sleep problems, and loss of interest rather
than sadness.
• Anxiety Disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder and specific phobias may
continue or emerge in late life.
• Late-Onset Depression:
Often linked to chronic illness, loss of loved ones, or social
isolation.
PHYSCIAL AND
CHRONIC ILLNESS
• Chronic Pain Disorders:
Arthritis, osteoporosis, or back pain can lead to
decreased mobility and emotional distress.
• Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke:
These increase the risk for both depression and
cognitive disorders.
• Diabetes and its cognitive effects:
Poor glucose control is linked with memory
problems and higher dementia risk.
SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS
Alcohol or prescription medication
misuse:
Sometimes used to cope with
loneliness, pain, or sleep issues; can
be overlooked in older adults.
DELIRIUM
Sudden, temporary confusion due
to infection, medication side
effects, or surgery. Often
reversible with treatment.
SLEEP
DISORDERS
Insomnia, sleep apnea,
and restless legs syndrome
are more common and can
worsen other mental
health issues.
THANK
YOU
