The Aging Process:The Aging Process: Infant to ElderlyInfant to Elderly

Contents:Contents:

Introduction & overview Vision Hearing Touch Motion & movement Sleep Plasticity Conclusion

Introduction & overview Vision Hearing Touch Motion & movement Sleep Plasticity Conclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

Some of the most critical brain changes during the lifespan happen during infant development & becoming elderly.

Similarities include development or degeneration of sensory function (sight, hearing, touch), motor skills, sleep cycles, and problem solving.

We will look at each of those aspects in further depth.

Some of the most critical brain changes during the lifespan happen during infant development & becoming elderly.

Similarities include development or degeneration of sensory function (sight, hearing, touch), motor skills, sleep cycles, and problem solving.

We will look at each of those aspects in further depth.

VisionVisionVisionVision

Infants are born with all the Infants are born with all the tools they need to see, but it tools they need to see, but it takes about six months for takes about six months for them to see objects & colors them to see objects & colors efficiently. Adult vision efficiently. Adult vision usually takes until ages 4-7usually takes until ages 4-7to develop.to develop.

Newborns see in shades of gray, and are Newborns see in shades of gray, and are born very near-sighted. They can see born very near-sighted. They can see clearly about 8-15 inches away and have a clearly about 8-15 inches away and have a particular affinity for faces and dark objects particular affinity for faces and dark objects (like eyes), which is one way they bond with (like eyes), which is one way they bond with their mother.their mother.

The elderly can The elderly can suffer from a suffer from a number of eye number of eye diseases, including diseases, including glaucoma, glaucoma, cataracts (left), & a cataracts (left), & a lifetime of wear-lifetime of wear-and-tear on the and-tear on the eyes.eyes.

Many senior citizens can still function Many senior citizens can still function normally, and compensate for decreased normally, and compensate for decreased visual function by wearing corrective visual function by wearing corrective lenses or having eye surgery. lenses or having eye surgery.

However, as noted in the 2005 study by However, as noted in the 2005 study by the University of Texas, there may be a the University of Texas, there may be a link between age-related vision loss & link between age-related vision loss & decline in other mental function. decline in other mental function.

This could be due to many factors. Poor This could be due to many factors. Poor quality of vision can make it difficult to quality of vision can make it difficult to engage in other brain-strengthening engage in other brain-strengthening activities. Also it can place disappointing activities. Also it can place disappointing limitations on daily & social activities, limitations on daily & social activities, health & self care, and driving.health & self care, and driving.**

**Impact of Low Vision on Daily Life Impact of Low Vision on Daily Life by Donia E. Nolanby Donia E. Nolan

HearingHearing

Auditory development begins in the Auditory development begins in the womb, and by the 20th week of fetal womb, and by the 20th week of fetal development, a healthy baby has a development, a healthy baby has a functioning inner ear.functioning inner ear.

During the first 6 months of life, a baby During the first 6 months of life, a baby is able to hear & recognize sounds but is able to hear & recognize sounds but has not yet developed other skills has not yet developed other skills needed to respond to them (like turning needed to respond to them (like turning the head in recognition or imitating the head in recognition or imitating sound).sound).

Hearing Development in Infants Hearing Development in Infants by Rose Weltonby Rose Welton

According to the National Institute of According to the National Institute of Health, Health, 30 percent of adults 65-74 years 30 percent of adults 65-74 years old, and 47 percent of adults 75 years old old, and 47 percent of adults 75 years old or older have a hearing impairment. Much or older have a hearing impairment. Much of the hearing loss can be due to noises of the hearing loss can be due to noises that a person was exposed to during his or that a person was exposed to during his or her lifetime. Hearing receptor cells are able her lifetime. Hearing receptor cells are able to regenerate, but not fast enough to keep to regenerate, but not fast enough to keep up with the rate at which they are lost.up with the rate at which they are lost.

Equilibrium is also conducted in the inner Equilibrium is also conducted in the inner ear, meaning that elderly people who begin ear, meaning that elderly people who begin to lose auditory function may be more to lose auditory function may be more prone to losing their balance and having a prone to losing their balance and having a fall.fall.

The elderly who do suffer from hearing The elderly who do suffer from hearing loss have options as to dealing with it: loss have options as to dealing with it: hearing aids, cochlear implants, and hearing aids, cochlear implants, and amplifiers are ways to improve hearing. amplifiers are ways to improve hearing. Some people also learn to lip-read or Some people also learn to lip-read or learn sign language in order to learn sign language in order to communicate with hearing loss.communicate with hearing loss.

TouchTouch

Touch, the first sense developed, is one of Touch, the first sense developed, is one of the most crucial factors in an infantthe most crucial factors in an infant’’s s development. Not only does it create development. Not only does it create permanent emotional bonds & encourage permanent emotional bonds & encourage secure psychological attachment, but secure psychological attachment, but touch is also a way for the infant brain to touch is also a way for the infant brain to make sense of its surroundings. make sense of its surroundings.

Coming into contact with an object Coming into contact with an object sends signals to the infant cortex, sends signals to the infant cortex,

causing it to map its surroundings & causing it to map its surroundings & learn sensations. This information will learn sensations. This information will

become the basis for a babybecome the basis for a baby’’s s perception of its environment.perception of its environment.

But as the elderly age, they begin to But as the elderly age, they begin to lose some of their touch receptors. lose some of their touch receptors.

Their skin can become thin, and they Their skin can become thin, and they become less able to recognize some become less able to recognize some touch sensations. However, touch is touch sensations. However, touch is

still a valid need for an older personstill a valid need for an older person’’s s health and well-being.health and well-being.

This loss of touch reception has the This loss of touch reception has the potential to be dangerous, both for potential to be dangerous, both for

elderly people or for anyone suffering elderly people or for anyone suffering from a receptor disorder. from a receptor disorder.

They become less able to identify They become less able to identify specific sensations, as well as specific sensations, as well as

temperature shifts. This can be temperature shifts. This can be detrimental, as pain receptors indicate detrimental, as pain receptors indicate danger. The elderly in particular can be danger. The elderly in particular can be

at risk for hypo- or hyperthermia for at risk for hypo- or hyperthermia for this reason.this reason.

Motion & movementMotion & movement

The movement of a newborn is mostly The movement of a newborn is mostly limited to reflexes. The basic limited to reflexes. The basic

movements of kicking the legs or movements of kicking the legs or turning the head to look for milk are turning the head to look for milk are

the infant stages of developing neural the infant stages of developing neural connections for movement, and connections for movement, and

strengthening the muscles needed to strengthening the muscles needed to control these movements voluntarily.control these movements voluntarily.

As an infant develops, it becomes As an infant develops, it becomes more & more able to control its motor more & more able to control its motor skills, progressing to grabbing objects, skills, progressing to grabbing objects, reaching cross-laterally, and walking. reaching cross-laterally, and walking.

As infants learn new stages of movement, As infants learn new stages of movement, they are in a constant state of re-they are in a constant state of re-

learning. When they learn to sit up, they learning. When they learn to sit up, they must develop their center of gravity & must develop their center of gravity & know their limits; when they move to know their limits; when they move to

crawling, these behaviors must be crawling, these behaviors must be learned again rather than building on learned again rather than building on

what is already known. what is already known.

For each new stage For each new stage of movement, the of movement, the infant develops a infant develops a

new set of new set of perspectives & perspectives & limitations. This limitations. This

gives him or her a gives him or her a broad & verifiable broad & verifiable

grasp of the grasp of the environment & the environment & the physics within it.physics within it.

Whereas babies & toddlers increase Whereas babies & toddlers increase their capacity for & speed of their capacity for & speed of

movement, the elderly begin to slow movement, the elderly begin to slow down as they age. down as they age.

According to our text, muscle According to our text, muscle proteins begin to degrade at a rapid proteins begin to degrade at a rapid pace, and even as early as age 30, pace, and even as early as age 30, the body can no longer keep up. the body can no longer keep up.

Muscle mass is decreased by 50% as Muscle mass is decreased by 50% as a person enters his or her mid-70a person enters his or her mid-70’’s. s.

This causes older people to lose This causes older people to lose weight and begin to look frail. weight and begin to look frail.

Sometimes older people begin to Sometimes older people begin to ““shrinkshrink”” -- this is due to loss of bone mass in the -- this is due to loss of bone mass in the

spine, and can make an older person look spine, and can make an older person look shorter or hunched over.shorter or hunched over.

SleepSleep

Newborns sleep up to 16 hours a day, Newborns sleep up to 16 hours a day, and this is crucial for their development, and this is crucial for their development, both physically & mentally. Though they both physically & mentally. Though they may not appear active during rest, their may not appear active during rest, their

brains are the most active while they brains are the most active while they sleep.sleep.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 20072007

As noted by the same study, As noted by the same study, particularly active areas during particularly active areas during

infant sleep are the visual, infant sleep are the visual, auditory, & processing centers auditory, & processing centers (similar to adult sleep studies). (similar to adult sleep studies).

This confirms the maternal This confirms the maternal desire to rock & sing or talk to desire to rock & sing or talk to

a baby while putting it to a baby while putting it to sleep; these are the regions sleep; these are the regions

that the infantthat the infant’’s brain is s brain is working on.working on.

Babies need a lot of sleep in order to Babies need a lot of sleep in order to grow, but as adults grow old, they tend grow, but as adults grow old, they tend to need less sleep, and the quality of to need less sleep, and the quality of sleep they get may not be as good sleep they get may not be as good because they are prone to respond to because they are prone to respond to external stimuli (noises, movement, external stimuli (noises, movement, etc.). Sleep disturbances can be partially etc.). Sleep disturbances can be partially responsible for some of the decline in responsible for some of the decline in memory or concentration that the memory or concentration that the elderly experience, because they may elderly experience, because they may be chronically fatigued.be chronically fatigued.

Brain: The Complete MindBrain: The Complete Mind (p. 285) (p. 285)

PlasticityPlasticity

Plasticity refers to the brainPlasticity refers to the brain’’s innate & s innate & subconscious ability to strengthen subconscious ability to strengthen

useful neural connections while useful neural connections while pruning away the unnecessary ones.pruning away the unnecessary ones.

Our brains are constantly changing Our brains are constantly changing and adapting, but the most significant and adapting, but the most significant period of plasticity occurs in the early period of plasticity occurs in the early

years.years.

Babies regard faces of varying ethnicities Babies regard faces of varying ethnicities & even species with the same interest. As & even species with the same interest. As

a baby grows older, the brain learns to a baby grows older, the brain learns to identify more strongly with face types that identify more strongly with face types that

the infant is exposed to & disregards the infant is exposed to & disregards some of the ability to differentiate other some of the ability to differentiate other

face types. face types.

Plasticity of face-processing in infancy Plasticity of face-processing in infancy (PNAS)(PNAS)

Similarly, the PBS documentary Similarly, the PBS documentary ““The The Science of BabiesScience of Babies”” discusses that discusses that

babies are born with the capacity to babies are born with the capacity to understand & speak the different word understand & speak the different word

dialects, but as they grow they dialects, but as they grow they become adapted to the speech become adapted to the speech

patterns of their own culture, and lose patterns of their own culture, and lose the ability to pronounce other sounds. the ability to pronounce other sounds. Later in life, a person could gain these Later in life, a person could gain these

skills back again, but beyond this skills back again, but beyond this period of plasticity, the skills are period of plasticity, the skills are

harder to acquire.harder to acquire.

Until recently, many Until recently, many scientists believed scientists believed

that the brain had a that the brain had a limited number of limited number of

neurons, & that they neurons, & that they were unregenerate. were unregenerate.

Now, scientists agree Now, scientists agree that the brain that the brain

continues to reform continues to reform itself, even in old itself, even in old

age.age.

In fact, as our text discusses in chapter 9, In fact, as our text discusses in chapter 9, this explains why some older people seem this explains why some older people seem

happier than ever: their neurons have happier than ever: their neurons have adapted to their aging body & brain.adapted to their aging body & brain.

Often they display better language skills & Often they display better language skills & vocabulary, not to mention a lifetime of vocabulary, not to mention a lifetime of experience. Also, they may have better experience. Also, they may have better

focus; since memories can be more focus; since memories can be more difficult to access, the elderly may have a difficult to access, the elderly may have a higher capacity to concentrate & process higher capacity to concentrate & process

information.information.

The elderly continue to be able to The elderly continue to be able to absorb & process new information as absorb & process new information as

they age, pruning unneeded they age, pruning unneeded information & enhancing new neural information & enhancing new neural connections. Our brainconnections. Our brain’’s commitment s commitment

to plasticity continues until we die.to plasticity continues until we die.

ConclusionConclusion::..

Many of the ways in which we develop as Many of the ways in which we develop as infants become the ways by which we infants become the ways by which we grow old as seniors, but our brain never grow old as seniors, but our brain never stops compensating & adapting to our stops compensating & adapting to our situation.situation.

There is a marked crossover between There is a marked crossover between the young & old generations: each is the young & old generations: each is on its way back to where the other on its way back to where the other

came from, and then the cycle begins came from, and then the cycle begins anew.anew.

BibliographyBibliography

Bryner, Jeanna. “Sleeping babies’ brains are buzzing.” MSNBC. Sept. 17, 2007. Web. Bryner, Jeanna. “Sleeping babies’ brains are buzzing.” MSNBC. Sept. 17, 2007. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.Feb. 20, 2012.

This news article describes the sleep study done on healthy infants which This news article describes the sleep study done on healthy infants which provedproved

that their brains remain active while they sleep. It also contained pictures on that their brains remain active while they sleep. It also contained pictures on thethe

brain images that resulted.brain images that resulted.

Carey, Susan E. “Plasticity of face processing in infancy.” Proceedings of the National Carey, Susan E. “Plasticity of face processing in infancy.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States. Feb. 10, 2005. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.Academy of Sciences in the United States. Feb. 10, 2005. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.

A summary of the studies done on infants and facial recognition. Includes theA summary of the studies done on infants and facial recognition. Includes theprocess and method of their studies as well as the findings.process and method of their studies as well as the findings.

““Neuroplasticity.” Science department, SCSU. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.Neuroplasticity.” Science department, SCSU. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.This article, used as literature for their psychology program, details the This article, used as literature for their psychology program, details the

sciencesciencebehind neuroplasticity and the changing brain, both in early infancy behind neuroplasticity and the changing brain, both in early infancy

throughoutthroughoutthe lifespan.the lifespan.

Nolan, Diona E. “Nolan, Diona E. “Normal Age-Related Vision Lossand Related Services for the Elderly”. Austin State University. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.

This article details the causes and recommendations for vision loss in elderly subjects. It discusses potential harms of vision loss as well as

solutions for those affected.

Bibliography, continued

“The Science of Babies.” PBS. Movie. Jan. 21, 2012.Documentary chronicling the first year of a baby’s life and the physical andneurological developments made. Of particular interest were the studies on

infantmovement and language development.

The Secret Life of the Brain: The Baby’s Brain. The Secret Life of the Brain: The Baby’s Brain. PBS. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.PBS. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.This site highlights important aspects of brain development through the This site highlights important aspects of brain development through the

lifespan. lifespan. Of particular interest for this presentation was their information on infant Of particular interest for this presentation was their information on infant visual visual perception.perception.

Welton, Rose. “Hearing Development in Infants.” Aug. 18, 2010. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.Welton, Rose. “Hearing Development in Infants.” Aug. 18, 2010. Web. Feb. 20, 2012.This is a concise parenting article about what to expect during different This is a concise parenting article about what to expect during different

stages of stages of a baby’s development with regards to their auditory skills.a baby’s development with regards to their auditory skills.