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Chapter 19

Psychological Changes in Adults

© Gallahue, D.L., & Ozmun, J.C.. Understanding Motor Development. McGraw-Hill

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Key Concept

Throughout Adulthood, Changes in the Body’s Physiological

Systems May Influence Motor Performance and May Represent

a Mechanism of the Aging Process

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What Is “Old”?

AARP (50+) Conventional wisdom in the USA

(65+) Conventional wisdom in the “real

world” An aging population (figure 19.1a & b)

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Three Principles of Aging and Motor Performance

Task specificity (specific demands of each task determine rate & extent of performance decline)

Inter-individual variability (differences between individuals performance declines, due to genetics & lifestyle choices)

Intra-individual variability (differences in the rate of performance declines within individuals, due to use/disuse, pathology)

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Why Do We Age? Senescence Cellular level events (< cell division

potential, > genetic mutations, > free radicals)

Immune system events (< system effectiveness leads to > vulnerability)

Homeostasis (< in systems harmony, reciprocal relationships among systems)

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Skeletal and Muscular Changes (cont.)

“Shrinkage” in height (disk compression, posture, spine misalignment)

Increased incidence of osteoporosis (< bone density, women most vulnerable)

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Skeletal and Muscular Changes (Figures 19.2 – 4)

Decreased muscular strength (fewer & smaller muscle fibers)

Increased muscle atrophy (inactivity vs. activity)

Muscular endurance (less affected by age than muscular strength)

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Central Nervous System Changes (cont.) Neuron loss (a lifelong

accumulative process) Decreases in brain mass

(associated with neuronal loss)

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Central Nervous System Changes Reduced brain plasticity (“use it or

loose it”) Increase in brain age markers

(abnormal formations: neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, lipofuscin)

Neurotransmitter changes (biochemical changes at the synapse, ex. <Dopamine & Parkinson’s disease)

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Circulatory & Respiratory System Changes (Figures 19.6-7)

Increased incidence of arteriosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”)

More atherosclerosis (age-related accumulation of fatty deposits on the artery walls)

Decreases in lung function (due more to life habits than aging alone)

Decreases in VO2 max (age-related decline in blood volume & muscle mass)

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Body Composition General increase in body weight and

BMI until approximately age 60 Decline after age 60 Intra-abdominal fat increases

steadily with age Decreased physical activity plays

key role in weight gain Decrease in BMR with increase in

age

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Visual System Changes (Figure 19.8)

Decreased visual acuity (at all distances)

Tendency for Senile miosis (incomplete pupil dilation)

More cataracts (clouding of the lens)

More presbyopia (poorer near vision)

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Auditory Systems (Figure 19.9)

Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)

Increased frequency of tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

More cerumen (ear wax)

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Proprioception Changes in the Ear Hearing loss (associated with

sensory cell loss, & age-related nerve degeneration)

Loss of balance (dizziness & vertigo often associated with age-related changes in the vestibular system)

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Concluding Concept

Developmental Change Is a Process of Performance Plateauing Followed by

Regression in Physiological Processes Over Time in the

Aging Adult.